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.

Then, a mischief of magpies began a ruckus, chattering and hopping from branch to branch of a scraggly tree.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

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

A French teenager who allegedly licked a straw from an orange juice vending machine before putting it back into its dispenser has been charged with committing mischief and being a public nuisance in Singapore.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

I loved watching the fae creatures of the Fantastikals frolic around, getting into mischief.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

He was a year older than I, skinny, brown as a chocolate bar, his hair orange, his hazel eyes full of mischief and laughter.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

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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