1
as in devilment
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
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2
as in playfulness
a natural disposition for playful behavior
your mother was full of mischief as a child, believe it or not
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3
as in monkey
an appealingly mischievous person
he's a little mischief who means no harm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mischief
Harris faces two counts of assault on a police officer and a single count each of interfering with a police officer, third-degree assault, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace.
—
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025
But if June isn’t soon enough to satisfy your need for tristate-area mischief, Disney will share a sneak peek on May 26 on its YouTube channels.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
She’s been charged with home invasion burglary, two counts of assault, two counts of criminal mischief, terroristic threats and resisting arrest.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2025
Hartley was charged with four felony counts of criminal mischief, one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of aggravated battery.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025
But if June isn’t soon enough to satisfy your need for tristate-area mischief, Disney will share a sneak peek on May 26 on its YouTube channels.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
She’s been charged with home invasion burglary, two counts of assault, two counts of criminal mischief, terroristic threats and resisting arrest.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2025
Hartley was charged with four felony counts of criminal mischief, one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of aggravated battery.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischief
Noun
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Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
5 Feb. 2025
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But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.—
Eugenia Bone,
WSJ,
10 July 2019
Noun
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The women screamed as the playful monkey swept in and struck his pose.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
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This is why she’s been able to hold the screen with Mullally and that monkey, by the way, the former playing her father Eli’s new romantic interest, Lori, and the latter as BJ’s new service animal after a fall from a stripper pole resulted in a spinal-cord injury.—
Brian Grubb,
Vulture,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Precious few bands can fill a stadium 52 years into their career — let alone play to an audience heavily populated by parents and their children, both generations sporting red devil horn headbands and cheering for 77-year-old singer Brian Johnson and white-haired guitar icon Angus Young, 70.—
Katherine Turman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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Fire crackling in Burt’s (Christopher Walken) dining room, framing his face like a devil.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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May God bless the entire Trump administration with swift repentance from this wickedness.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
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So long as Palestinians are violent Jew-hating savages, the conflict has nothing to do with Israeli occupation and all to do with the wickedness coursing through Palestinian blood.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As shown in his previous films, Eggers’ sensibility has roots not in contemporary horror but in stories from centuries past that become vivid and febrile, alive with an insidious devilry that inches under your skin.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
2 Dec. 2024
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That’s enough devilry to explain at least much of Haiti’s challenges without resorting to tales of satanic influence.—
Matthew Brown,
Washington Post,
24 Mar. 2024
Noun
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That’s flimflam, that’s roguery.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2022
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America, this is a level of pure double-dealing, roguery, and downright villainy ne’er witnessed on this television program.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
7 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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