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

2

: 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

Examples of mischief in a Sentence

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

In January he was busted in Union City, N.J. on a fugitive from justice charge; the same month he was arrested twice in Hoboken for criminal mischief, sources said. —Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 18 Nov. 2024

Foreign governments including hackers working at the behest of Russia, China or Iran may be involved, too, as well as those who simply delight at using social media to cause mischief and spread hoaxes. —Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 6 Nov. 2024

The report listed the potential offenses as criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. —Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 6 Nov. 2024

On a night that's traditionally associated with mischief, the sad reality is that some people take things too far. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

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

• malicious mischief

Kids Definition

mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: injury sense 2, harm

2

: a person or animal who causes mischief

3

: mischievous conduct or quality

a child gets into mischief

had mischief in their eyes