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 For a curious cat or dog, a quick nibble or brush against the wrong bloom can turn a little botanical mischief into a serious medical emergency. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 King’s indifference to orthodox formats enables formal mischief. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 Butch was charged with criminal mischief, arson and reckless endangerment. — Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 The stagehands finally lowered the elevated side of the stage, ended their mischief, and Belafonte began singing. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 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
  • Matt Reeves’ film is also on the dour side, without the genre-mixing playfulness that enlivens its predecessor and sequel.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Kukka chandelier by Sarah Sherman Samuel for Lulu and Georgia adds a touch of playfulness to the living room, which is located in the original 1930s Spanish-style part of the home.
    — Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of playfulness
Noun
  • Johnson said a teenager present in the courtroom was the foster child at the center of allegations that Deutsch traded her for a monkey.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Jebreal clarified that Jeffries reminded her of the three wise monkeys, who cannot hear, see, or speak, but her comment was quickly denounced by Democrats.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of monkey
Noun
  • Instead, Audi has built something that works remarkably well as everyday transportation while keeping a substantial reserve of mischievousness for those moments when an empty stretch of road appears.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of mischievousness
Noun
  • In January, Watts was a guest on actor Rainn Wilson’s podcast, where Watts played devil’s advocate to Wilson’s skeptic about casual use of mind-altering substances.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers have also documented the phenomenon in dogs, Tasmanian devils, and some kinds of clams and other shellfish.
    — Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 18 Aug. 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

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mischarging
mischief
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Cite this Entry

“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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