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
Synonyms
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 London Cat, a great skinless feline who likes to turn people inside-out and embodies all the mischief and malevolence of cats).
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Daniel Taylor has written about the mentality, moves, and mischief which made him — and unearths his first ever scouting report.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
The 7-month-old Great Pyrenees pup tried to play it off casually when she got caught out, but there was no denying her mischief.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
He’s been sent to prison three times in total and has been previously convicted of a range of charges including unlawful possession of a handgun, burglary and criminal mischief, Levin said.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mischief 
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Christian Holub, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Daniel Taylor has written about the mentality, moves, and mischief which made him — and unearths his first ever scouting report.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
The 7-month-old Great Pyrenees pup tried to play it off casually when she got caught out, but there was no denying her mischief.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
He’s been sent to prison three times in total and has been previously convicted of a range of charges including unlawful possession of a handgun, burglary and criminal mischief, Levin said.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mischief
Dictionary Entries Near mischief
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mischief. Accessed 18 Jan. 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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