cheekier; cheekiest
informal
: boldly rude, impudent, or disrespectful in usually a playful or appealing way
a cheeky grin
… old-timers who still look like they could deck you if you get too cheeky.Shaun Assael
cheekily adverb
cheekiness noun

Examples of cheeky in a Sentence

a cheeky comment about something that was none of her business
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Steven Galanis, co-founder and CEO, turned the idea of personalized celebrity messages into a platform, where fans can request anything from birthday wishes to a cheeky roast. Harry Booth, TIME, 8 Dec. 2024 The sweeping biopic charts the rise of the pop star, from his days as a cheeky 8-year-old in a working-class U.K. town to his battles with the usual pitfalls of fame and money. Ramin Zahed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024 Dolled up in sweet Mary Jane shoes, an extra pop of rosy blush, and a heavy dose of colorful gemstones, this 2025 trend is meant to bring your creativity to life with a cheeky nod to all things girlhood. Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024 The new clip — gloriously narrated with cheeky bravado by Alan Cumming — finds Hilton and Richie doing a bit of their old Simple Life shtick, picking up odd jobs like a shift at Sonic or serving as guides on a Hollywood tour bus. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cheeky 

Word History

Etymology

see cheek entry 1

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheeky was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near cheeky

Cite this Entry

“Cheeky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheeky. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

cheeky

adjective
cheekier; cheekiest
informal : boldly rude or disrespectful in usually a playful way
cheekiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cheeky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!