1
: a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent
… the polished floor … often causes mischiefs—bruises, sprains, dislocations …—
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer2
: 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 of mischief
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
In April 2018, Johnson was arrested for criminal mischief.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
When Smith drives us in the golf cart, hunched close to the wheel, a look of childish mischief spreads over his face.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Rivera-Lopez is facing charges including battery, criminal mischief, grand theft, resisting an officer without violence and two counts of assault on a first responder, court records show.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
In the 12 years since earning Bronze at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, Nick battled depression, panic attacks, and substance abuse, all of which culminated in a very public arrest for criminal mischief.
—Outside Online, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
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Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
When Smith drives us in the golf cart, hunched close to the wheel, a look of childish mischief spreads over his face.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Rivera-Lopez is facing charges including battery, criminal mischief, grand theft, resisting an officer without violence and two counts of assault on a first responder, court records show.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
In the 12 years since earning Bronze at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, Nick battled depression, panic attacks, and substance abuse, all of which culminated in a very public arrest for criminal mischief.
—Outside Online, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mischief. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mischief
noun
mis·chief
ˈmis-chəf 
ˈmish-
1
2
: a person or animal who causes mischief
3
: mischievous conduct or quality
a child gets into mischief
had mischief in their eyes
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