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Dictionary.com

badly behaved

ADJECTIVE
naughty
Synonyms
STRONGEST
headstrong impish mischievous playful rowdy wicked
WEAK
annoying contrary disobedient disorderly evil exasperating fiendish fractious froward indecorous insubordinate intractable obstreperous perverse rascally raunchy recalcitrant refractory rough sinful teasing tough ungovernable unmanageable unruly wanton wayward willful worthless wrong
Antonyms
STRONGEST
behaved calm good moderate nice obedient
WEAK
clean controlled moral pure

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They also dispute the idea that Hope/Sow #753 is particularly badly behaved.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2025

“I felt sort of useless in his presence because I’m quite bumbly and quite badly behaved on set.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2023

Clarkson, Hammond and May lost some of their appeal when they moved to Amazon, where it didn't seem as much fun to be badly behaved.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023

Casting Rudd as a star with limited acting talent and a reputation for being a badly behaved narcissist is a simple gambit.

From Salon • Aug. 8, 2023

Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit.”

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling