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Glite Dictionary
😜 Naughty or cheeky ✨ Lively or stylish
spanky

spanky

9.4
Behaving in a naughty, cheeky way that can lead to mild punishment
  • adjective
  • /ˈspæŋki/
  • Informal
translation icon : travieso
  • Her spanky attitude often got her into trouble with her teachers.

Examples

  • He gave a spanky grin after playing a harmless prank on his friend.

  • The spanky child kept making faces at his older sister during dinner.

  • That was a spanky little joke!

  • The child was being spanky during dinner.

  • The spanky child couldn't stop teasing his friends at the playground.

  • Her spanky remarks often made her classmates laugh, even when they were inappropriate.

  • He flashed a spanky smile after skipping class for a fun day out.

Synonyms

naughty
vsspanky
145 1.0

Badly behaved or not following rules, usually a child

is milder and focuses on cheeky impertinence needing light rebuke
cheeky
vsspanky
  • Informal
33 4.8

Being rude in a playful way that shows little respect

is more likely to invite a mild punishment or rebuke
saucy
vsspanky
  • Informal
21 5.8

Being playful and a little rude in a way that teases people

is more impertinent and likely to deserve mild rebuke
alecky
vsspanky
  • Informal
2 9.5

Being cheeky and trying to be clever in a way that annoys others

is plain impertinence likely to earn a mild rebuke
lippy
vsspanky
  • Offensive
1 8.7

Rude or cheeky when talking back to people in charge

is broader impertinence that may lead to mild punishment
scampish
vsspanky
6.3

Acting playful and slightly naughty, often doing small harmless tricks

is more about cheeky misbehavior that can deserve rebuke
sarky
vsspanky
  • UK
9.9

To say mocking or rude things to tease someone

is about impertinent conduct rather than mainly sarcastic remarks

Antonyms

obedient
45 1.0

Willing to do what someone in charge tells you

How Naughty

wicked
149 4.6
naughty
145 1.0
spanky
  • Informal
9.4
mischievous
19 3.5
cheeky
  • Informal
33 4.8

Surface Forms

spanky positive

Morphology

spanky = spank (semi-transparent) = spank + y

The adjective is formed from 'spank' + '-y', and the sense of being naughty or deserving punishment is only partly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Spanky comes from the word spank, which means 'to hit lightly' as a small punishment. So calling someone spanky paints a picture of playful naughtiness or cheekiness, as if they might deserve a gentle spank.