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.

The mischief offence carries a punishment of up to two years in jail on conviction and a fine, according to the charge sheet.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

It all seems like harmless mischief until it escalates.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The man had also been causing mischief at other homes nearby, she says, and one resident called 911.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

In the early ’90s, a distinct penchant for mischief and a grittily glamorous New York edge quickly earned Jacobs the moniker of fashion’s bad boy.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

She kept thinking of Mia’s smile that day in the kitchen, the capability she saw there to delight in mischief, in breaking the rules.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Vocabulary lists containing mischief

"Mending Wall," by Robert Frost

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Lincoln Inaugural Address (March 1861)

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

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