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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mischievous
There is something mischievous and tender about it.
—
Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Matthew Broderick will forever be Ferris Bueller, the mischievous main character of the 1986 John Hughes classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Berfield played Reese, Malcolm's mischievous older brother.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Fierce in expression but controlled in form, the 1959 LP draws out a rootsy warmth from beneath the bebop that had consumed bandstands since World War II, forging a sound that feels at once confrontational, mischievous, and generous.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Matthew Broderick will forever be Ferris Bueller, the mischievous main character of the 1986 John Hughes classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Berfield played Reese, Malcolm's mischievous older brother.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Fierce in expression but controlled in form, the 1959 LP draws out a rootsy warmth from beneath the bebop that had consumed bandstands since World War II, forging a sound that feels at once confrontational, mischievous, and generous.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mischievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischievous
Adjective
-
The Wednesday morning commute may prove wicked.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
-
Morejón is throwing harder than ever and still breaking off some dastardly breaking pitches and throwing an increasingly wicked changeup.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
But theatergoers around me couldn’t seem to get enough, no matter how repetitive the naughty humor became.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
His tics are not naughty mischief, but an uncontrollable action.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gabriel Basso stars as Sutherland, a formerly low-level FBI agent who has taken on increasingly dangerous assignments as part of a counterintelligence group within the bureau called Night Action.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
-
Bessent has compared the Fed's growing balance sheet to a dangerous lab experiment.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is the kind of duo that could work for the office or dressy weddings alike; the addition of playful accessories helps keep the ensemble from looking too severe, which is perfect for dinner dates or a night at the theater.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
4 May 2026
-
Much of that playful approach is apparent visually through various uses of multimedia.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Or worse, to turn it into a sort of prison sentence.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Still, from his horns and tattoos to the double-bladed lightsaber, Maul's bad-guy chic was hard to beat.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
South Florida frequently sees sargassum washing ashore on its beaches, but the brown seaweed generally isn't harmful to humans.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Companies should be required to disclose how their algorithms promote content to minors and be held responsible for knowingly amplifying harmful material, including content linked to self-harm, exploitation, or harassment.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Dylan, who is dimpled and impish, with long eyelashes and a curtain of dark bangs, picked up a small container and examined it.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The finding speaks to the cleverness of Kea (Nestor notabilis), mountain-dwelling parrots with a reputation for impish intelligence.—
Elizabeth Anne Brown,
Scientific American,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The most common adverse effects were jaundice, abdominal pain, and nausea.—
Patricia Weiser,
Verywell Health,
1 May 2026
-
As of April 30, no adverse reactions due to the consumption of the breakfast pizzas had been reported.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
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 8 May. 2026.
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