Entry Word: mischief

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm <the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway>

Synonyms devilishness, devilment, devilry (or deviltry), hob, impishness, knavery, mischievousness, rascality, roguishness, shenanigans, waggery, wickedness

Related Words diabolicalness, naughtiness; friskiness, playfulness, sportiveness; chicanery, hanky-panky, trickery; high jinks, monkeyshines, skylarking, tomfoolery; antic, caper, practical joke; aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation

Near Antonyms gravity, seriousness, solemnity

2 a natural disposition for playful behavior <your mother was full of mischief as a child, believe it or not> — see playfulness
3 an appealingly mischievous person <he's a little mischief who means no harm> — see scamp 1