Mouthy means talking too much in a disrespectful or argumentative way, especially to someone in authority. A mouthy student might talk back to their teacher with a sarcastic tone instead of accepting correction quietly. A mouthy kid might argue with every single instruction their parents give, turning simple requests into long debates.

The word captures a specific kind of annoying behavior: talking in a way that's rude, defiant, or challenging, with an attitude that pushes boundaries. When someone gets mouthy, they're usually testing how much disrespect they can get away with. This is different from being chatty or talkative, which just means talking a lot without the rude edge.

You might hear an adult say “Don't get mouthy with me” as a warning to dial back the disrespect. A coach might tell a mouthy player to focus on the game instead of complaining about every call. Being mouthy is different from standing up for yourself or asking reasonable questions. It's that extra edge of rudeness or backtalk that crosses the line from respectful disagreement into disrespectful behavior.