adj
mischievous
MIHS-chih-vuhs
Mischievous (adj) means Fond of playful teasing or harmless pranks. Example: “Her mischievous younger brother swapped the salt for sugar.”
adj
1
Fond of playful teasing or harmless pranks.
"Her mischievous younger brother swapped the salt for sugar."
"The kitten gave a mischievous swipe at the dangling ribbon."
How to use mischievous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPlayfully naughty, enjoying harmless pranks.
Common mistake
Often mispronounced/misspelled as "mischievious" — there is no extra "i" before -ous.
Common pairings
a mischievous smile
mischievous behaviour
mischievous child
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more mischievous
- Superlative
- most mischievous
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").
Synonyms
View more →
impish
pixilated
prankish
implike
arch
wicked
puckish
hurtful
detrimental
noxious
pernicious
destructive
Antonyms
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").
