mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent

the polished floor … often causes mischiefs—bruises, sprains, dislocations

—Herbert Spencer

2

: a cause or source of harm, evil, or irritation

especially : a person who causes mischief

He's a real mischief to his family.

3

a

: action that annoys or irritates

Halloween mischiefs

b

: the quality or state of being mischievous : mischievousness

had mischief in his eyes

Synonyms

• devilishness
• devilment
• devilry
• deviltry
• diablerie
• espièglerie
• hob
• impishness
• knavery
• mischievousness
• rascality
• roguery
• roguishness
• shenanigan(s)
• waggery
• waggishness
• wickedness

Examples of mischief in a Sentence

It's hard to keep him out of mischief.

the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway

Recent Examples on the Web

The Rutgers University Police Department said in a statement the department is investigating the incident as a burglary, criminal mischief, and bias crime. —Celina Tebor, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Jabbari was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault and criminal mischief, but the Manhattan District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the case against Jabbari, citing a lack of prosecutorial merit. —EW.com, 8 Apr. 2024

Richard Smith is charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure and criminal mischief, according to his arrest report. —Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

Americans got a preview of such mischief during the presidential primaries when a deepfake robocall impersonating President Biden instructed New Hampshire residents not to vote. —Meg Little Reilly, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

In more recent years, Keith reframed his rebellion away from politics, toward getting-older mischief. —Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024

The pet parent said the trio of pooches are known for causing mischief. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024

In January, he was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief in Lee County after he was accused of slamming his hand into a woman’s vehicle during a domestic dispute, court records show. —Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024

Another important principle, then, revives Hamilton’s dictum that the means must be proportioned to the mischief. —Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English meschief, from Anglo-French, misfortune, hardship, from Old French meschever to come out badly, mes- + chief head, end — more at chief

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mischief

• malicious mischief

Kids Definition

mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: injury sense 2, harm

2

: a person or animal who causes mischief

3

: mischievous conduct or quality

a child gets into mischief

had mischief in their eyes