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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Charges of felony domestic violence in the presence of a child, as well as misdemeanor child abuse and criminal mischief, were then dropped.
—
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Paul was portrayed as the central figure from the first episode, which features body-cam footage from her 2023 arrest, in which she was charged with assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Mystic Rayne, 53, is facing charges of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
Previous charges include assault causing bodily injury, disorderly conduct, possession of alcohol by a minor, public intoxication, burglary of a habitation, theft of property, terroristic threat, driving while license invalid, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Paul was portrayed as the central figure from the first episode, which features body-cam footage from her 2023 arrest, in which she was charged with assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Mystic Rayne, 53, is facing charges of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
Previous charges include assault causing bodily injury, disorderly conduct, possession of alcohol by a minor, public intoxication, burglary of a habitation, theft of property, terroristic threat, driving while license invalid, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
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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Anxieties about overconsumption and environmental degradation lie beneath the playfulness.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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As an actor, Lena Maria approaches each role with curiosity, playfulness, and sincere commitment.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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While peers like Coco Chanel or Christian Dior made clothing that was radically simple or effusively beautiful, Schiaparelli embraced what was surprising, in bad taste or even revolting (a pair of 1938 monkey fur boots, for example).—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
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And so do some primates, such as bonobos and snub-nosed monkeys.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Social media users can’t get enough of Chico’s antics, as many lauded his mischievousness.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Soon, the America’s Got Talent stage descended into pure chaos, with Cowell and Mandel showcasing their innate mischievousness before the latter turned his attention toward his fellow judges.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Is chocolate devil’s food cake with ganache your favorite birthday cake?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
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Its theme — that the rich are different, and in not-good ways — meant she’d be forced into a ritualistic game of hide-and-seek, running for her life from her devil-worshipping, masters-of-the-world in-laws.—
Michael Ordoña,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Pearl revels in wickedness, presenting a literary world in which a successful writer’s haughtiness is both encouraged and rewarded.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
15 Dec. 2025
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But despite this being the internet, there’s no wickedness being thrust around — everyone’s taking the chance to get in on a memeless rollout.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
25 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Still, the pure rascality in these extravagant self-inventions shouldn’t be overlooked.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
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Naturally, such rascality didn't do overall fuel economy any favors; in fact, my average was just 20 mpg (11.8 L/100 km) over the course of 125 miles at the E 350's helm.—
Peter Nelson,
Ars Technica,
18 Apr. 2024
Noun
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Dancing spirits, dressed in Victorian-era garb, stir up devilry as the night unfolds.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
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If Michael Jackson moonwalked so that Prince could show us the face of God with his brain-melting 2007 set, the NFL’s reaction to Fox’s inspired bit of devilry set the stage for the league’s eventual takeover of the American psyche.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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