mischief
noun
mis·chief ˈmis-chəf 
ˈmish-
1
: a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent
the polished floor … often causes mischiefs—bruises, sprains, dislocations
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer2
: a cause or source of harm, evil, or irritation
especially : a person who causes mischief
He's a real mischief to his family.
3
a
: action that annoys or irritates
Halloween mischiefs
b
: the quality or state of being mischievous : mischievousness
had mischief in his eyes
Synonyms
- devilishness
- devilment
- devilry
- deviltry
- diablerie
- espièglerie
- hob
- impishness
- knavery
- mischievousness
- rascality
- roguery
- roguishness
- shenanigan(s)
- waggery
- waggishness
- wickedness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
It's hard to keep him out of mischief. the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway
Recent Examples on the Web With his newest deep-dive movie about movies, prolific documentarian Mark Cousins switches up his approach by adding a heaping dollop of mischief. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 The sobering consequences compounded by each of Saul's wrongdoings were inextricable of the somewhat fantastical playground of mischief where his human engineering and legal ingenuity roamed free. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 16 Aug. 2022 The criminal mischief charge has been changed to criminal trespass, Lawrence Chief Deputy Brian Covington said. al, 24 Aug. 2022 The actor was previously arrested for grand theft, resisting arrest, battery against a peace officer and criminal mischief, building up rap sheets in California, Idaho, Florida and New York. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 The suspect was taken into custody without incident and was expected to be booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of felony theft and felony criminal mischief, according to authorities. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 7 Aug. 2022 The disqualifying offenses listed in the bill ranged from assault, rape and kidnapping to burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing. Dave Altimari, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2022 Disqualifying offenses range from assault, rape and kidnapping to burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing. Dave Altimari, courant.com, 10 Mar. 2022 For decades, professional sports leagues were resistant to betting, fearing game-fixing or other criminal mischief, a wariness that dates back to at least the Black Sox scandal at the 1919 World Series. New York Times, 22 Feb. 2022 See More
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 The sobering consequences compounded by each of Saul's wrongdoings were inextricable of the somewhat fantastical playground of mischief where his human engineering and legal ingenuity roamed free. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 16 Aug. 2022 The criminal mischief charge has been changed to criminal trespass, Lawrence Chief Deputy Brian Covington said. al, 24 Aug. 2022 The actor was previously arrested for grand theft, resisting arrest, battery against a peace officer and criminal mischief, building up rap sheets in California, Idaho, Florida and New York. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 The suspect was taken into custody without incident and was expected to be booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of felony theft and felony criminal mischief, according to authorities. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 7 Aug. 2022 The disqualifying offenses listed in the bill ranged from assault, rape and kidnapping to burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing. Dave Altimari, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2022 Disqualifying offenses range from assault, rape and kidnapping to burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing. Dave Altimari, courant.com, 10 Mar. 2022 For decades, professional sports leagues were resistant to betting, fearing game-fixing or other criminal mischief, a wariness that dates back to at least the Black Sox scandal at the 1919 World Series. New York Times, 22 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English meschief, from Anglo-French, misfortune, hardship, from Old French meschever to come out badly, mes- + chief head, end — more at chief
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing mischief
Kids Definition
mischief
noun
mis·chief ˈmis-chəf
1
: behavior or activity that annoys or bothers but is not meant to cause serious harm
It was a typical school plan to keep us out of mischief. Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder
Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder2
: injury or damage caused by a person
mischief
noun
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- devilment
- playfulness
- mischievousness
- wickedness
- rascality
- devilry
- roguery
- roguishness
- impishness
- devilishness
- deviltry
- knavery
- misconduct
- waggery
- waggishness
- irritation
- hob
- naughtiness
- misbehavior
- diablerie
- annoyance
- troublemaking
- shenanigan(s)
- exasperation
- trickery
- trick
- tomfoolery
- buffoonery
- espièglerie
- monkeying
- chicanery
- friskiness
- sportiveness
- horseplay
- hijinks
- roughhousing
- skylarking
- antic
- caper
- high jinks
- diabolicalness
- practical joke
- hanky-panky
- aggravation
- monkey business
- goings-on
- monkeyshine(s)
- dido
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- seriousness
- gravity
- solemnity
- gravitas
- solemnness
2
as in playfulness
a natural disposition for playful behavior your mother was full of mischief as a child, believe it or not Synonyms & Similar Words
- playfulness
- sportfulness
- mischievousness
- devilment
- impishness
- friskiness
- sportiveness
- prankishness
- tricksiness
- espièglerie
- larkiness
- coltishness
- rascality
- energy
- devilry
- roguishness
- deviltry
- archness
- devilishness
- coyness
- knavery
- waggery
- vivacity
- mirthfulness
- frivolousness
- whimsicality
- jocularity
- hob
- spiritedness
- liveliness
- vivaciousness
- spunkiness
- sprightliness
- kittenishness
- lightheartedness
- diabolicalness
- gaiety
- gayety
- jocundity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- earnestness
- seriousness
- sternness
- soberness
- grimness
- solemnity
- restraint
- graveness
- solemnness
- priggishness
- sobersidedness
- serious-mindedness
- stuffiness
- starchiness
- constraint
- self-control
3
as in monkey
an appealingly mischievous person he's a little mischief who means no harm Synonyms & Similar Words
- monkey
- devil
- rascal
- scamp
- imp
- rogue
- rapscallion
- hellion
- brat
- madcap
- urchin
- nuisance
- ragamuffin
- cutup
- larker
- misbehaver
- juvenile delinquent
- disrupter
- gamin
- skylarker
- gamine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- creep
- clown
- snake
- beast
- skunk
- cur
- louse
- heel
- lout
- stinker
- joker
- boor
- cad
- churl
- miscreant
- scoundrel
- villain
- cretin
- scapegrace
- knave
- stinkard
- scalawag
- varlet
- reprobate
- scallywag