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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in playfulness
a natural disposition for playful behavior
your mother was full of mischief as a child, believe it or not
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in monkey
an appealingly mischievous person
he's a little mischief who means no harm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mischief
Stay sharp out there, and consider this your invitation to stir up a little harmless mischief of your own.
—
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Jon Hamm has built a career playing characters who blur the line between charm and mischief.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Come April, one of television’s most talked-about series—HBO’s The White Lotus—will begin filming its fourth season here, adding a new twist to the Riviera’s long tradition of mischief and decadent pleasures.
—Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
The playful debate has only added to the video’s appeal, highlighting the internet’s enduring fondness for pets caught—or allegedly caught—in the middle of mischief.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Jon Hamm has built a career playing characters who blur the line between charm and mischief.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Come April, one of television’s most talked-about series—HBO’s The White Lotus—will begin filming its fourth season here, adding a new twist to the Riviera’s long tradition of mischief and decadent pleasures.
—Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
The playful debate has only added to the video’s appeal, highlighting the internet’s enduring fondness for pets caught—or allegedly caught—in the middle of mischief.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mischief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischief
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Others will tell you that the day and its playfulness were inspired by an Egyptian legend.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For example, when Les unleashes the couple's cat Magoo on Lindy, Banks expected a certain level of playfulness.—
Sarah Rodman,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And in other happy animal news, Punch the monkey has a new best friend.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Villas are set among 475 acres of pristine golf courses and land-before-time-style vegetation inhabited by the property’s namesake monkeys.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Social media users can’t get enough of Chico’s antics, as many lauded his mischievousness.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Soon, the America’s Got Talent stage descended into pure chaos, with Cowell and Mandel showcasing their innate mischievousness before the latter turned his attention toward his fellow judges.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
While the movie has some fun asking whether people actually want to know everything about their partners (a devil’s bargain since time immemorial), its real interest lies in how that knowledge is colored by who shares it.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Is chocolate devil’s food cake with ganache your favorite birthday cake?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
An opinion offered offhand suggests a secret wickedness that must be exorcised.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Pearl revels in wickedness, presenting a literary world in which a successful writer’s haughtiness is both encouraged and rewarded.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Still, the pure rascality in these extravagant self-inventions shouldn’t be overlooked.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Naturally, such rascality didn't do overall fuel economy any favors; in fact, my average was just 20 mpg (11.8 L/100 km) over the course of 125 miles at the E 350's helm.—
Peter Nelson,
Ars Technica,
18 Apr. 2024
Noun
-
Dancing spirits, dressed in Victorian-era garb, stir up devilry as the night unfolds.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
If Michael Jackson moonwalked so that Prince could show us the face of God with his brain-melting 2007 set, the NFL’s reaction to Fox’s inspired bit of devilry set the stage for the league’s eventual takeover of the American psyche.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
