mischievous
- 1Fond of, or showing a fondness for, causing trouble in a playful way, such as playing harmless tricks or doing things one is not supposed to do.
Before class, a mischievous student turned every chair to face the back wall.
Her eyes had a mischievous sparkle that told me she was planning something.
UsageThree syllables, spelled mischievous (not
incorrect: mischievious).Similarnaughty, impish, playful, roguish, puckish
Oppositewell-behaved, obedient
- 2Causing harm or damage; injurious to someone or something.
The judge warned that the new rule could have mischievous effects on families.
The bank's directors warned that one mischievous rumor could undo years of public trust.
Similarharmful, damaging, injurious, pernicious, hurtful
Oppositeharmless, beneficial
Note
Moralists such as Joseph Butler and Henry Sidgwick pair it with to: mischievous to society, mischievous to the individual. Next to the playful meaning, a mischievous rumor does real harm.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Joseph Butler used mischievous followed by to society. en.wikisource.org
- Henry Sidgwick used both mischievous to the individual and mischievous to society. en.wiktionary.org
Practice
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Origin
Old French meschever combined mes- ("mis-") with chever ("to come to an end"), which came from chef ("head"). It gave Anglo-Norman meschevous and then Middle English myschevous or mischevous. Read on the surface, the word is mischief + -ous.