# mischievous

/ˈmɪstʃəvəs/ (US) · /mˈɪstʃɪvəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mischievous
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. playfully naughty

adjective · CEFR B2

enjoying causing trouble in a playful way that is not meant to be mean or harmful.

For teachers: showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful, often harmless way; characterized by impish or cheeky behaviour.

- The mischievous puppy hid my shoes under the sofa while I was sleeping.
- The child gave his mother a mischievous grin before darting away to hide the television remote.

### 2. causing harm or trouble

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

intended to cause trouble, damage, or problems for someone.

For teachers: intended to cause harm, injury, or annoyance. Often used in formal or legal contexts regarding false statements or actions.

- The newspaper was accused of spreading mischievous lies about the politician.
- The court determined that the defendant had acted with mischievous intent when he filed the false report to disrupt the proceedings.

## Examples

- The child gave me a mischievous smile before hiding my keys.
- He has a mischievous sense of humor and loves playing practical jokes on his colleagues during lunch breaks.
- The author's mischievous prose often leads the reader down a path of false assumptions only to reveal a surprising and lighthearted twist in the final chapter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.