mischief
Americannoun
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conduct or activity that playfully causes petty annoyance.
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a tendency or disposition to tease, vex, or annoy.
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a vexatious or annoying action.
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harm or trouble, especially as a result of an agent or cause.
- Synonyms:
- hurt
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an injury or evil caused by a person or other agent or cause.
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a cause or source of harm, evil, or annoyance.
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the devil.
noun
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wayward but not malicious behaviour, usually of children, that causes trouble, irritation, etc
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a playful inclination to behave in this way or to tease or disturb
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injury or harm caused by a person or thing
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a person, esp a child, who is mischievous
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a source of trouble, difficulty, etc
floods are a great mischief to the farmer
Related Words
See damage.
Etymology
Origin of mischief
1250–1300; Middle English meschef < Old French, noun derivative of meschever to end badly, come to grief. See mis- 1, achieve
Explanation
People who pull pranks, make jokes, and do things that annoy other people — but aren't really awful — are good at mischief. Mischief is a word for things that are a little bad or reckless but ultimately harmless. Hitting someone with a spitball is mischief. Hitting them with a rock is dangerous and therefore much worse than mischief. Making mischief can be fun, as long as it doesn't get out of hand. People who do a lot of mischief are called "mischievous."
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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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
Yet that mischief won’t save him in November.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
“I think one of the reasons he was so keen is he’s someone who has a sense of mischief and fun,” Lighton says, speaking separately over Zoom from London.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
Chainey said he tried to portray them as "the inner child locked away in all of us", drawn to mud, mischief and the thrill of breaking rules.
From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026
“What are you laughing at? You are up to some mischief, Jo,” said Laurie, looking mystified.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
