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
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Recent Examples of mischief
Later, hundreds of NYPD officers in riot gear intervened to remove over 100 people who illegally occupied a campus building; the activists were charged with offenses including burglary, trespass, and criminal mischief.
—
The Editors, National Review, 25 Mar. 2025
Lucy Grace Nelson, 40, of Lyons was arrested Jan. 29 on suspicion of 12 felonies, including two counts of arson, possessing explosives or incendiary devices, and criminal mischief, according to court records.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
Taihong Ouyang, 49, was arrested Tuesday and charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both as hate crimes, and aggravated harassment after a string of break ins at the worship sites earlier that day.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
He has been charged with second-degree criminal mischief and released on a $500 bond.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
The Editors, National Review, 25 Mar. 2025
Lucy Grace Nelson, 40, of Lyons was arrested Jan. 29 on suspicion of 12 felonies, including two counts of arson, possessing explosives or incendiary devices, and criminal mischief, according to court records.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
Taihong Ouyang, 49, was arrested Tuesday and charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both as hate crimes, and aggravated harassment after a string of break ins at the worship sites earlier that day.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
He has been charged with second-degree criminal mischief and released on a $500 bond.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischief
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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In 2013, Wang and his colleagues were the first in China to successfully transplant a pig liver into a monkey, which survived 14 days.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
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Rather than hide them under leaves or in caves, the hummingbirds build them on top of large, flat leaves, leaving them more exposed to snakes, monkeys, and other predators.—
ByErik Stokstad,
science.org,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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To break the cycle of bias, Play devil’s advocate with yourself.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Fire in the birthing cabin, where another devil stands.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The tinny, atmospheric beat escalates the wickedness, like a party that ends with a seance.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 2025
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Or watch Margaret Hamilton terrorize Dorothy before getting the backstory behind her wickedness.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As shown in his previous films, Eggers’ sensibility has roots not in contemporary horror but in stories from centuries past that become vivid and febrile, alive with an insidious devilry that inches under your skin.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
2 Dec. 2024
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That’s enough devilry to explain at least much of Haiti’s challenges without resorting to tales of satanic influence.—
Matthew Brown,
Washington Post,
24 Mar. 2024
Noun
-
That’s flimflam, that’s roguery.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2022
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America, this is a level of pure double-dealing, roguery, and downright villainy ne’er witnessed on this television program.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
7 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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