Mischievous: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ˜ˆ
Add to dictionary

mischievous

 

[ หˆmษชs.tสƒษช.vษ™s ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way; causing harm or damage in a playful way

Synonyms

impish, naughty, playful, prankish.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
mischievous

Typically describes behavior that is playful but might cause some trouble or annoyance. It has a slightly negative connotation but is often used affectionately for children.

  • The mischievous child hid his sister's shoes
  • The cat had a mischievous look in its eyes
naughty

Describes a child who behaves badly or disobediently. It usually has a mildly negative connotation. Used mainly for disobeying rules or causing minor trouble.

  • The naughty puppy chewed on the furniture
  • The teacher had to reprimand the naughty students
impish

Describes someone, especially a child, who is playfully mischievous. It carries a more lighthearted and whimsical tone compared to 'mischievous'.

  • Her impish grin made everyone in the room laugh
  • The boyโ€™s impish antics kept the teachers on their toes
playful

Describes someone or something that is fun-loving and spirited. It lacks the negative implications of 'mischievous' or 'naughty'.

  • The playful kitten chased the ball around the room
  • They enjoyed a playful afternoon at the park
prankish

Describes someone who loves to play practical jokes or pranks. It implies a good sense of humor but can annoy others if taken too far.

  • His prankish behavior made him popular among his friends
  • The prankish girl put a whoopee cushion on the teacherโ€™s chair

Examples of usage

  • He had a mischievous glint in his eye as he played a prank on his friend.
  • The mischievous children drew on the walls with crayons.
  • She had a mischievous sense of humor that always kept her friends on their toes.
Context #2 | Adjective

look

suggesting mischief; teasingly clever

Synonyms

impish, roguish, sly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
mischievous

Best used to describe someone who likes to cause playful trouble or jokes, often used for children or playful adults. It can have a slightly negative connotation if the tricks cause harm or inconvenience.

  • The mischievous child hid his sister's shoes
  • The cat had a mischievous look in its eyes
sly

Best used for someone who is clever and deceitful, usually in a negative way. It suggests underhandedness and the ability to trick others.

  • Her sly tactics in the board game took everyone by surprise
  • The sly fox managed to steal some food without being noticed
roguish

Used to describe someone who is charming but behaves slightly dishonestly or rebelliously. It typically implies a sense of daring and adventure.

  • With a roguish smile, he charmed everyone at the party
  • The character's roguish behavior made him popular with the audience
impish

Often used to describe someone who is playful and slightly naughty in a charming or entertaining way. It has a light-hearted and endearing tone.

  • She had an impish grin after playing a harmless trick
  • The impish puppy kept stealing socks

Examples of usage

  • She gave him a mischievous smile before revealing her surprise.
  • His mischievous grin let her know he was up to something.

Translations

Translations of the word "mischievous" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น travesso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคถเคฐเคพเคฐเคคเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช schelmisch

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ nakal

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะตัะปัƒั…ะฝัะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ psotny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ„ใŸใšใ‚‰ใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท espiรจgle

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ travieso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท yaramaz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์žฅ๋‚œ๊พธ๋Ÿฌ๊ธฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุคุฐ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nezbednรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ nezbednรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ฐƒ็šฎ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ nagajiv

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ strรญรฐinn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚ะตะฝั‚ะตะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒชแƒ”แƒšแƒฅแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ yaramaz

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ travieso

Etymology

The word 'mischievous' originated from the Middle English word 'meschief', which meant 'mischief'. The term evolved over time to 'mischievous', with its current meaning of causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way. The word has been used in English literature and language to describe playful or teasing behavior since the 14th century.

See also: mischief, mischievousness.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,457, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.