adj
catty
KA-tee
Catty (adj) means Deliberately spiteful or snide in a subtle, needling way. Example: “She made a catty remark about her coworker's outfit.”
adj
1
Deliberately spiteful or snide in a subtle, needling way.
"She made a catty remark about her coworker's outfit."
"The comments under the post got increasingly catty."
How to use catty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMean in a sly, indirect way — snide rather than openly aggressive.
Common pairings
a catty comment
catty remarks
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Word forms
- Plural
- catties, cattys
- Comparative
- cattier
- Superlative
- cattiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She made a _____ remark about her coworker's outfit.
Etymology
From cat + -y, likening sharp, sly remarks to a cat's hidden claws.
Synonyms
View more →
bitchy
cattish
Related words
Rhymes for catty
See all rhymes for catty →Frequently asked questions
What does “catty” mean?
The word “catty” means deliberately spiteful or snide in a subtle, needling way. In plain terms, mean in a sly, indirect way — snide rather than openly aggressive.
How do you pronounce “catty”?
“Catty” is pronounced KA-tee ([ˈkʰæɾi] in IPA).
How do you use “catty” in a sentence?
Here is “catty” used in a sentence: “She made a catty remark about her coworker's outfit.”
What part of speech is “catty”?
“Catty” is an adjective.
