1
as in wicked
tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness
the children had been so mischievous that we had to pay the babysitter extra and then clean up the mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in naughty
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
punished for their mischievous tricks on the neighbors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
causing or capable of causing harm
mischievous gossip that ruined a good teacher's reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in playfulness
a natural disposition for playful behavior
as they grew older, they lost much of their youthful mischievousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
bored kids often engage in a certain amount of mischievousness during the long summer vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mischievous
Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
Gomez returned to her role as the mischievous Alex Russo on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place last year and is expected to appear in the upcoming second season.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 13 July 2025
Wearing a now-iconic red tie and less cartoonish design with more angular and mischievous features, DKC’s version of Kong has been a staple for over 30 years.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2025
Her intelligence is that vital and exacting, her wit that mischievous, her concerns – feminism, environmentalism, dystopian societies – that urgently relevant.
—Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Adjective
From the mischievous twins to the infamous Meredith Blake, these design styles are on par with their respective characters.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
Gomez returned to her role as the mischievous Alex Russo on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place last year and is expected to appear in the upcoming second season.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 13 July 2025
Wearing a now-iconic red tie and less cartoonish design with more angular and mischievous features, DKC’s version of Kong has been a staple for over 30 years.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2025
Her intelligence is that vital and exacting, her wit that mischievous, her concerns – feminism, environmentalism, dystopian societies – that urgently relevant.
—Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischievous
Adjective
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Similarly, a text grappling with a wicked problem shouldn’t stay limited by the narrow confines of literary genre, instead blending journalism, memoir, fiction, and narrative nonfiction.—
Melody Glenn
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
-
Stinging and 'wicked' Asian needle ants are spreading across the US Are invasive tawny crazy ants in Ohio?—
Kim Luciani,
The Enquirer,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Roger Brown’s 1983 disco painting of a skeleton in a naughty leather cap embodies both extremes.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
21 July 2025
-
Wonders leads the cast of naughty teens as Ava, who returns to Southport to celebrate the engagement of her best pal.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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More dangerous heat waves The Great Lakes region warmed substantially faster in the six years since the last assessment than it did in decades prior, the report shows.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Here's what each means, according to the NWS: Heat advisory: A heat advisory is the lowest level and is issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach the criteria for a more serious alert.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Charged with assault and criminal mischief, Altunaga was freed on supervised release at the request of a prosecutor, the newspaper reported.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
19 July 2025
-
He was charged with criminal mischief and was being held on $500 bond, said Constable Mark Herman.—
Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Both players enjoyed some playful banter during the game.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 July 2025
-
Many designs incorporate bold color accents, vibrant greens, reds, yellows, and blues by adding a playful contrast to the metals.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Relegated to the minority and with little sway over the congressional agenda, Democrats are betting that the bipartisan route is the least terrible of several bad options ahead of them.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
22 July 2025
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If the individual begins throwing up, or if symptoms get worse or last for over an hour, then call 911.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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That might help researchers discover which technology helps what kinds of people best and which makes no impact or is harmful to brain health.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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McNair said any delay in response from school officials and emergency responders are especially harmful.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Despite Igor's impish antics, his Facebook posts and TODAY appearance have generated considerable interest from potential adoptive parents.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
14 July 2025
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The others were Dan Lucas, the guitarist, from York, and Taylor Stewart, the drummer, from outside Glasgow—the group’s impish prankster, who has a penchant for choking his mates and kicking them in the balls.—
Nick Paumgarten,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Video
'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine
'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.
Cite this Entry
“Mischievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischievous. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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