mischief Definition
- 1playful misbehavior or troublemaking, especially in children
- 2harm or damage caused by someone or something, often in a playful or mischievous way
Using mischief: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mischief" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The children were up to their usual mischief.
Example
He was always getting into mischief as a child.
Example
The dog caused a lot of mischief in the garden.
Example
She's always up to some kind of mischief.
mischief Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for mischief
Antonyms for mischief
- obedience
- good behavior
Idioms Using mischief
Example
I can tell by the look on your face that you're up to mischief again.
to encourage or persuade someone to do something that is naughty or causes trouble
Example
He led his little brother into mischief by convincing him to steal candy from the store.
Example
The kids were making mischief with the water hose, spraying each other and getting everything wet.
Phrases with mischief
Example
The boys were making mischief in the classroom.
Example
She was accused of stirring up mischief among her coworkers.
Example
The children got into mischief while their parents were out.
Origins of mischief
from Old French 'meschief', meaning 'misfortune'
Summary: mischief in Brief
The term 'mischief' [ˈmɪstʃɪf] refers to playful misbehavior or troublemaking, often associated with children. It can also denote harm or damage caused by someone or something, often in a playful or mischievous way. Examples include 'The children were up to their usual mischief' and 'She's always up to some kind of mischief.' Phrases like 'make mischief' and 'stir up mischief' describe causing trouble, while idioms like 'up to mischief' and 'lead someone into mischief' denote doing something naughty or encouraging others to do so.
