horny

adjective

ˈhȯr-nē 

hornier; horniest

1

a

: of or made of horn (see horn sense 1d)

a horny growth

b

: having a hard calloused surface or texture

horny skin

horny-handed

c

of a mineral : compact and homogeneous with a dull luster

2

: having horns (see horn sense 1)

3

[horn erect penis + -y entry 1]

a

: desiring sexual gratification

horny teenagers

b

: excited sexually

horniness noun

Synonyms

• concupiscent
• goatish
• hot
• hypersexual
• itchy
• lascivious
• lecherous
• lewd
• libidinous
• licentious
• lubricious
• lubricous
• lustful
• oversexed
• passionate
• randy
• salacious
• satyric
• wanton

Examples of horny in a Sentence

in her view, “teenage boys are perpetually horny”

Recent Examples on the Web

But our horny widow is the pinnacle of health — her pregnancy is real! —Claire Franken, TVLine, 27 Mar. 2025

Her face was an amalgam of horny disbelief and disgust. —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2025

What goes into creating the audio for a sequence full of horny frogs? —Michaela Zee, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025

These screaming, horny frogs gave us an answer about what’s been going on. —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see horn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for horny

• corny
• thorny

Kids Definition

horny

adjective

ˈhȯr-nē 

hornier; horniest

1

: made of horn or of something resembling horn

2

: hard entry 1 sense 1, callous

the horny layer of the skin of the hands

Medical Definition

horny

adjective

ˈhȯr-nē 

hornier; horniest

1

a

: composed of or resembling tough fibrous material consisting chiefly of keratin : keratinous

horny tissue

after the horny material has been … cut away

—Morris Fishbein

b

: being hard or callused

horny-handed

2

: having horns