mischief
52 synonyms and 7 antonyms for mischief, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Playful behaviour that causes minor trouble or annoyance, without real malice.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
agitation
annoyance
demolition
detriment
disruption
impairment
nuisance
sabotage
weakening
misconduct
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
disablement
incapacitation
pique
ravage
scathe
undoing
unmaking
vexation
badness
delinquincy
devilishness
devilment
devilry
deviltry
elfishness
goings-on
hanky-panky
impishness
knavery
impropriety
misbehavior
mischievousness
misdemeanor
monkey business
naughtiness
prankishness
pranksomeness
puckishness
rascality
roguery
roguishness
scampishness
Antonyms
How to use mischief
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
get up to mischief
a mischievous grin
cause mischief
Etymology
From Old French meschief, "misfortune," from mes- (\"badly\") + chever (\"to come to a head\"), ultimately tracing back to Latin caput, "head."
Full origin of mischief →Frequently asked questions
What does “mischief” mean?
The word “mischief” means playful behaviour that causes minor trouble or annoyance, without real malice. In plain terms, harmless troublemaking, or sometimes real damage.
How do you pronounce “mischief”?
“Mischief” is pronounced MIHS-cheef (/ˈmɪs.t͡ʃɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “mischief” in a sentence?
Here is “mischief” used in a sentence: “The twins were clearly up to mischief the moment they went quiet.”
What is another word for “mischief”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mischief” include agitation, annoyance, corruption, damage, demolition and destruction.
What is the opposite of “mischief”?
The opposite of “mischief” — its antonyms — are decorum, gentility, gentlemanliness, seemliness and sportsmanship.
What part of speech is “mischief”?
“Mischief” is a noun.
Where does the word “mischief” come from?
The word “mischief” comes from Latin. From Old French meschief, "misfortune," from mes- (\"badly\") + chever (\"to come to a head\"), ultimately tracing back to Latin caput, "head.".
Is “mischief” a common word?
“Mischief” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
