MISCHIEF Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

mischief

noun

ˈmis-chəf

Definition of mischief

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in monkey

an appealingly mischievous person he's a little mischief who means no harm

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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 Joaquin Alvarado, 37, of Alexander was arrested Tuesday on two counts of third-degree assault on a family or household member and one count each of criminal mischief and tampering with physical evidence. — Arkansas Online, 5 Aug. 2026 And Weird Science would simply not work if the virtual babe, Lisa, was not played so perfectly by Kelly LeBrock with knowing mischief and surprising gravitas. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026 That's not to say that there's no way to participate in mischief. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 The feeling is cheeky and curious, a soundtrack to innocuous mischief. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 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

Definition of devilment

Noun

Really, the challenge as an actor is forgetting all the playfulness, ambition and tone around it, or even the books and the research and just playing the truth of it.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Affection, physical touch, flirting and playfulness become less frequent, replaced by stress, conflict and growing resentment.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of playfulness

Noun

Another example is how birds frequently follow monkeys through forests to feed on insects disturbed by their movements.

— Cyril Grueter, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026
The stories feature the titular George, a mischievous, tailless, almost-always-smiling monkey exploring New York City, and his human companion, the Man in the Yellow Hat.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of monkey

Noun

The tension latent in Jobim and Regina’s working relationship gives their rendition a mischievousness that’s sorely missed in the monotony of Art Garfunkel’s version, or the twee precision of Susannah McCorkle’s.

— Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 13 June 2026
Social media users can’t get enough of Chico’s antics, as many lauded his mischievousness.

— Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

Definition of mischievousness

Noun

Miller was bold, having learned of life’s wickedness at an early age.

— Air Mail, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
Max Cady should be an unsettling interruption, a man who undermines our ideas of right and wrong through his nonchalance about his own wickedness; here, the most unsettling thing about him are those teal contact lenses.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026

Definition of wickedness

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

Definition of devilry

Browse Nearby Words

mischarging

mischief

mischiefs

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Style

“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischief. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of mischief

noun

Example Sentences

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