adjective

• 1(of a person, animal, or their behavior) causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way.

  ‘two mischievous kittens had decorated the bed with shredded newspaper’

  More example sentences

  • ‘I can be playful, mischievous, or silly depending on how you look at things.’
  • ‘He phoned a pal who told him to try to ease the mischievous kitten from under the machine using cooking oil.’
  • ‘This politician is charming and likeable but carries the air of a bit of a mischievous rogue.’
  • ‘Barry grins back, a natural expression that makes him look mischievous.’
  • ‘Kyle looked a bit upset but Jonathan just got a mischievous look on his face.’
  • ‘A council has waged war on mischievous Halloween youngsters by banning children from buying eggs, it emerged today.’
  • ‘I could see that same mischievous glint in his eyes which was once a part of his personality.’
  • ‘His dark brown eyes had the same mischievous glint.’
  • ‘The two boys looked at each other, and a little mischievous grin developed between them.’
  • ‘Byron was shoved out of the way rather forcefully by two identical twins with very mischievous grins.’
  • ‘He gave her a little mischievous smile and returned his attention back to the teacher.’
  • ‘I turned back to Chase and gave him a little mischievous smile.’
  • ‘Sam shook his head, and a slightly mischievous smile appeared on his face.’
  • ‘She smiled at the mussed blonde hair and the cute, slightly mischievous look on Adrian's face.’
  • ‘She almost believed him until she saw the mischievous gleam in his brown eyes.’
  • ‘Me, I love my nephew to death, but I think he needs to be a bit more mischievous.’
  • ‘You never saw two siblings that were more mischievous.’
  • ‘His mother keeps a careful eye on the youngster to stop him being mischievous.’
  • ‘I am not being mischievous, but just stating the facts as I see them.’
  • ‘Sure he was a bit mischievous, but so was she.’

  Synonyms

  naughty, bad, badly behaved, misbehaving, disobedient, troublesome, vexatious, full of mischief

  playful, teasing, wicked, impish, puckish, roguish, waggish, arch

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1(of an action or thing) causing or intended to cause harm or trouble.
     ‘a mischievous allegation for which there is not a shred of evidence’
     More example sentences

     • ‘He gave a mischievous response when asked if he will continue to speak his mind if he feels circumstances demand that.’
     • ‘This practice of profiling is mischievous and harmful to a tolerant and developing society.’
     • ‘At some point, the paper will do something mischievous that prompts questions to be asked of its management.’
     • ‘Can anyone direct us to where these mischievous articles have appeared?’
     • ‘He simply cannot understand how reasonable people allow such a mischievous system to endure.’
     • ‘He is always doing something mischievous and looks guilty at all times.’
     Synonyms

     malicious, malevolent, hostile, spiteful, bitter, venomous, poisonous, evil-intentioned, ill-natured, evil, baleful, vindictive, vengeful, vitriolic, rancorous, malign, malignant, pernicious, mean, nasty, harmful, hurtful, destructive, wounding, cruel, unkind, defamatory

     View synonyms