Mischief

/ˈmɪsˌt͡ʃiːf/ · noun

Meaning

(uncountable) Conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance..

Definitions by Sense

1. (uncountable) Conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance.
2. (countable) A playfully annoying action.
3. (collective) A group or a pack of rats.
4. (archaic) Harm or injury:
5. (law) A criminal offence defined in various ways in various jurisdictions, sometimes including causing damage to another's property.
6. (archaic, countable) A cause or agent of annoyance, harm or injury, especially a person who causes mischief.
7. (euphemistic) The Devil; used as an expletive.
8. (Australia) Casual and/or flirtatious sexual acts.

Example Sentences

Drink led to mischief.

John's mischief, tying his shoelaces together, irked George at first.

Kirac, the leader of the rats under his charge, speaks to the major through his telepathic abilities that manifested after the alien virus infected him and his mischief of rats.

A group of rats is not a herd or a gaggle, but a pack or a mischief of rats. Rats in general are omnivorous, meaning they will eat almost anything.

To die like a man of honour, Sir Hargrave, you must have lived like one. You should be sure of your cause. But these pistols are too ready a mischief. Were I to meet you in your own way, Sir Hargrave, I should not expect, that a man so enraged would fire his over my head, as I should be willing to do mine over his. Life I would not put upon the perhaps involuntary twitch of a finger.

Epimetheus was scatter-brained and a mischief to men for having taken the woman [Pandora] that Zeus had formed.

What the mischief are you? and how the mischief did you get here, and where in thunder did you come from?

"Not now, Smee," Hook said darkly. "He is only one, and I want to mischief all the seven. Scatter and look for them."

Synonyms for mischief

Antonyms for mischief

Related Words

Word Forms

• mischiefs
• mischiefing
• mischiefed
• mischieve

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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