mischief

mis·chief

noun \ˈmis-chəf, ˈmish-\

: behavior or activity that is annoying but that is not meant to cause serious harm or damage

: a playful desire to cause trouble

: harmful behavior

Full Definition of MISCHIEF

1

:  a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent

2

:  a cause or source of harm, evil, or irritation; especially :  a person who causes mischief

3

a :  action that annoys or irritates

b :  the quality or state of being mischievous :  mischievousness <had mischief in his eyes>

Examples of MISCHIEF

1. It's hard to keep him out of mischief.
2. <the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway>

Origin of MISCHIEF

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

Related to MISCHIEF

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

earnestness, soberness, sobersidedness

Related Words

diabolicalness, misbehavior, misconduct, naughtiness, troublemaking; buffoonery, friskiness, playfulness, sportiveness; chicanery, trickery; goings-on, hanky-panky, high jinks (also hijinks), monkey business, monkeying, monkeyshine(s), skylarking, tomfoolery; horseplay, roughhousing; antic, caper, dido, practical joke, trick; aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation

Near Antonyms

gravitas, gravity, seriousness, solemnity, solemnness