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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
causing or capable of causing harm
mischievous gossip that ruined a good teacher's reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mischievous
Pudi, as usual, is as mischievous as ever in his relentless pursuit of climbing the corporate ladder, outsmarting his bosses—and perhaps even himself.
—
Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
Similarly, Charlie’s growing collection of toy cars stolen from gas stations along the way both note his mischievous spirit and mark the miles traveled across vast landscapes.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
Michelle Obama couldn’t make it, but part-time-painter George W. Bush had space in his diary (like all mischievous elves straight after Christmas), and the poor woman behind BFG Barron missed the whole event.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Bathed in a pink-pop glow, its pastiche of romance and horror collide in a viciously mischievous parable of technology and control that speaks to these most anxious times.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mischievous 
Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
Similarly, Charlie’s growing collection of toy cars stolen from gas stations along the way both note his mischievous spirit and mark the miles traveled across vast landscapes.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
Michelle Obama couldn’t make it, but part-time-painter George W. Bush had space in his diary (like all mischievous elves straight after Christmas), and the poor woman behind BFG Barron missed the whole event.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Bathed in a pink-pop glow, its pastiche of romance and horror collide in a viciously mischievous parable of technology and control that speaks to these most anxious times.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mischievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischievous
Adjective
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Are people born wicked, or is wickedness thrust upon them?—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Cancer had snatched his leg with a wicked arm tackle.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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So Robert here, sitting in broad daylight smack bang in downtown Portland with four fentanyl pills on open display beside him, is now being slightly legally naughtier than during decriminalization.—
Matt Thompson,
SPIN,
3 Feb. 2025
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The effect, as customer Dave Harwood of Orlando noted on his way out the door, was not particularly naughty.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Hamilton said that wind shear combined with an icy runway would make dangerous conditions for a flip.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
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Schools districts throughout Kentucky closed on Monday, citing flooded streets, dangerous travel conditions and power outages that impacted some 15,000 homes and businesses.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Mike was a Sagittarius: adventurous, open-minded, playful, spontaneous, and reluctant to commit to anything.—
Erika W. Smith,
Vogue,
11 Feb. 2025
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At the beginning of the shoot, the team was in a good mood and almost playful.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The weather was bad enough that MassDOT dropped the speed limit on the pike and forbid tandem trucks from the road.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2025
-
There have been worse trades than the one that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick.—
Louisa Thomas,
The New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Researchers may have found that the tartaric acid in grapes and raisins is the substance which is harmful to dogs.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
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Additionally, bleach can be harmful to your skin and respiratory system if not used properly.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Her glamorous sound, fiery technique and sharp musicality, served up with impish charm and slinky couture, reliably cause runs on the box office.—
Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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But Nathalie would never let this drop and would bring it up again years later with that wink in her eye and her impish smile.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sitting for too long can lead to a host of adverse health effects, but taking short movement breaks throughout the day can offset these risks.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Health,
12 Feb. 2025
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Some such adverse impacts include difficulty driving or with close-up activities like reading, writing, cooking, sewing or fixing things around the house.—
Daryl Austin,
USA TODAY,
12 Feb. 2025
Video
'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine
'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.
Thesaurus Entries Near mischievous
Cite this Entry
“Mischievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischievous. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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