mischief

noun

ˈmis-chəf How to pronounce mischief (audio)
Definition of mischiefnext
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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3
as in monkey
an appealingly mischievous person he's a little mischief who means no harm

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mischief He was convicted of criminal mischief with damage in 2020 and sentenced to 364 days in jail. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 Camani Bartletto, 18, was hit with the charge for allegedly firing at an Uber shortly before the detective was shot — and was also charged with gun possession, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026 Neverson was charged with a felony count of second-degree mischief for an unrelated disturbance. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026 In a nicely balanced performance, Alejandra Villanueva’s Mistress Quickly, the play’s go-between and overseer of mischief, embodies the free and easy spirit of Simon’s production. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mischief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischief
  1. devilment
  2. playfulness
  3. monkey
  4. mischievousness
  5. devil
  6. wickedness
  7. rascality
  8. devilry
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of devilment
Noun
  • There is a heaviness and sorrow to that wise, ingenious goddess that obscured the character’s power and playfulness—a choice made by Nolan, no doubt to emphasize his dark themes.
    — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • But Barley’s playfulness began to reemerge in May 2024, when a 4-day-old Pekin duckling named Louie arrived, thanks to a Facebook post from an elementary school teacher looking to rehome two ducklings.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 July 2026
Definition of playfulness
Noun
  • She was hooked by Punch after her daughter in the Philippines told her about the monkey.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • The monkeys were likely both refugees from the booming population of rhesus macaques widespread in Silver Springs State Park, which is roughly 50 miles away, and surrounding areas.
    — Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
Definition of monkey
Noun
  • The tension latent in Jobim and Regina’s working relationship gives their rendition a mischievousness that’s sorely missed in the monotony of Art Garfunkel’s version, or the twee precision of Susannah McCorkle’s.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 13 June 2026
  • Social media users can’t get enough of Chico’s antics, as many lauded his mischievousness.
    — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of mischievousness
Noun
  • Daniel isn’t this devil’s only minion; Armand’s got an Illumination movie’s worth of cronies doing his bidding.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • The scene was both serious and strange — after all, this was Vegas and a member of the Satanic temple with black devil horns affixed to the top of his head was waiting for his turn on the microphone.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of devil
Noun
  • Miller was bold, having learned of life’s wickedness at an early age.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
  • Max Cady should be an unsettling interruption, a man who undermines our ideas of right and wrong through his nonchalance about his own wickedness; here, the most unsettling thing about him are those teal contact lenses.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of wickedness
Noun
  • Still, the pure rascality in these extravagant self-inventions shouldn’t be overlooked.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of rascality
Noun
  • Dancing spirits, dressed in Victorian-era garb, stir up devilry as the night unfolds.
    — Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Definition of devilry

Browse Nearby Words

mischarging
mischief
mischiefs
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Cite this Entry

“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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