mischievous
Mischievous (adj) means Fond of playful teasing or harmless pranks. Example: “Her mischievous younger brother swapped the salt for sugar.”
How to use mischievous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPlayfully naughty, enjoying harmless pranks.
Often mispronounced/misspelled as "mischievious" — there is no extra "i" before -ous.
Word forms
more mischievous comparative, most mischievous superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ younger brother swapped the salt for sugar.
Etymology
From Middle English mischevous, from Old French meschever ("to come to a bad end"), from mes- ("mis-") + chever ("to finish," from chef, "head").
Related words
Rhymes for mischievous
See all rhymes for mischievous →Frequently asked questions
What does “mischievous” mean?
The word “mischievous” means fond of playful teasing or harmless pranks. In plain terms, playfully naughty, enjoying harmless pranks.
How do you pronounce “mischievous”?
“Mischievous” is pronounced MIHS-chih-vuhs (/ˈmɪs.t͡ʃɪ.vəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “mischievous” in a sentence?
Here is “mischievous” used in a sentence: “Her mischievous younger brother swapped the salt for sugar.”
What is another word for “mischievous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mischievous” include hurtful, detrimental, noxious, pernicious and destructive.
What part of speech is “mischievous”?
“Mischievous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “mischievous” come from?
The word “mischievous” comes from Old French. From Middle English mischevous, from Old French meschever ("to come to a bad end"), from mes- ("mis-") + chever ("to finish," from chef, "head").