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
Summers at Camp Walden, in Maine, solidified her love of both mischief and writing.
—Adrienne Raphel, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2024
The most serious cases of in-flight mischief are also reported to the Department of Justice.
—Paradise Afshar, CNN, 15 Sep. 2024
Incidental music by David Yazbek is an unexpected highlight, bringing some mischief and verve to the otherwise staid production.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024
Both suspects are facing several felony counts of theft and cemetery mischief.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mischief 
Adrienne Raphel, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2024
The most serious cases of in-flight mischief are also reported to the Department of Justice.
—Paradise Afshar, CNN, 15 Sep. 2024
Incidental music by David Yazbek is an unexpected highlight, bringing some mischief and verve to the otherwise staid production.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024
Both suspects are facing several felony counts of theft and cemetery mischief.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mischief
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mischief.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mischief
Cite this Entry
“Mischief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mischief. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
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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