1
as in devilment
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm
the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway
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2
as in playfulness
a natural disposition for playful behavior
your mother was full of mischief as a child, believe it or not
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3
as in monkey
an appealingly mischievous person
he's a little mischief who means no harm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mischief
There’s a wonderful undercurrent of pure childhood mischief in those books.
—
New York Times, 18 May 2025
Roberts, who often looked to me like an English schoolboy—rumpled shirt, rep tie—had worked with Tina to transform the British magazine Tatler from a staid society rag into a place of mischief.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Kia has been charged with third-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief and animal torture, police said.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 29 May 2025
The pair were charged with grand theft, with Prudhomme also charged with criminal mischief.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
New York Times, 18 May 2025
Roberts, who often looked to me like an English schoolboy—rumpled shirt, rep tie—had worked with Tina to transform the British magazine Tatler from a staid society rag into a place of mischief.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Kia has been charged with third-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief and animal torture, police said.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 29 May 2025
The pair were charged with grand theft, with Prudhomme also charged with criminal mischief.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischief
Noun
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Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
5 Feb. 2025
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But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.—
Eugenia Bone,
WSJ,
10 July 2019
Noun
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In rodents and monkeys, neurons in the basolateral amygdala encode not just the value of rewards for oneself but also the rewards received by others.—
Tobias Kalenscher,
Scientific American,
13 June 2025
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This year's trip to Thailand was an exercise in incivility and taboo-breaking, a cacophonous symphony of troubled souls colliding amid Mai Tais and monkeys.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Seven people were kicked out of the courtroom by O’Hare for speaking out of turn and calling members of the court racists and devils.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2025
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Rich flavors of maple syrup, golden syrup, red cherries and devil’s chocolate cake in this 17% alcohol late harvest wine.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
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May God bless the entire Trump administration with swift repentance from this wickedness.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
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So long as Palestinians are violent Jew-hating savages, the conflict has nothing to do with Israeli occupation and all to do with the wickedness coursing through Palestinian blood.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As shown in his previous films, Eggers’ sensibility has roots not in contemporary horror but in stories from centuries past that become vivid and febrile, alive with an insidious devilry that inches under your skin.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
2 Dec. 2024
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That’s enough devilry to explain at least much of Haiti’s challenges without resorting to tales of satanic influence.—
Matthew Brown,
Washington Post,
24 Mar. 2024
Noun
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That’s flimflam, that’s roguery.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2022
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America, this is a level of pure double-dealing, roguery, and downright villainy ne’er witnessed on this television program.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
7 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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