1
: a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent
the polished floor … often causes mischiefs—bruises, sprains, dislocations—
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer2
: a cause or source of harm, evil, or irritation
especially
: a person who causes mischief
He's a real mischief to his family.
3
a
: action that annoys or irritates
Halloween mischiefs
b
: the quality or state of being mischievous : mischievousness
had mischief in his eyes
Examples of mischief in a Sentence
It's hard to keep him out of mischief.
the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway
Recent Examples on the Web
The individuals face charges including felony criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and additional offenses.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
If he’s arrested, the vandal could be facing a charge of criminal mischief as a hate crime.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
Still, Prince Phillip of Sleeping Beauty is a true romantic hero, and his trusty steed Samson is the rare equine companion who can match his owner's sense of adventure and penchant for mischief.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 27 May 2025
He had been charged with felony second-degree assault on a police officer and the lesser charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic, Jefferson County court records showed.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
If he’s arrested, the vandal could be facing a charge of criminal mischief as a hate crime.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
Still, Prince Phillip of Sleeping Beauty is a true romantic hero, and his trusty steed Samson is the rare equine companion who can match his owner's sense of adventure and penchant for mischief.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 27 May 2025
He had been charged with felony second-degree assault on a police officer and the lesser charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic, Jefferson County court records showed.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mischief. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mischief
noun
mis·chief
ˈmis-chəf 
ˈmish-
1
2
: a person or animal who causes mischief
3
: mischievous conduct or quality
a child gets into mischief
had mischief in their eyes
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