mischief

[mis-chif] / ˈmɪs tʃɪf /

NOUN

trouble, damage

Synonyms

STRONGEST

catastrophe evil misconduct playfulness prank sabotage vandalism wrongdoing

STRONG

atrocity devilment devilry fault friskiness frolicsomeness gag harm hurt ill impishness injury misbehavior mischievousness misfortune naughtiness outrage rascality roguery roguishness shenanigans sportiveness transgression waggery waggishness wrong

WEAK

dirty trick funny business high jinks misdoing monkey business waywardness

Antonyms

STRONG

advantage aid behavior benefit blessing good happiness help kindness obedience right

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We see potential for seasonal-adjustment mischief in the January data,” said Richard Moody, chief U.S. economist at Regions Financial.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 8, 2026

Nat wants to prove she’s a good ghost, not one of the bad ones who cause mischief.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

"It will be suits and cocktail dresses, and you know me, mysterious mischief, so bring your presents, your presence and your humour!"

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026

The worst that befell most of those duped by New Year’s Eve AI-generated mischief was a little discomfort, embarrassment and wasted time.

From Salon • Jan. 21, 2026

Mrs. Olinski had a great tolerance for mischief, but she had no patience for malice.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

Vocabulary lists containing mischief

"Mending Wall," by Robert Frost

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Lincoln Inaugural Address (March 1861)

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!