MISCHIEVOUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mischievous mean? 

• MISCHIEVOUS (adjective)
  The adjective MISCHIEVOUS has 2 senses:

1. naughtily or annoyingly playful

2. deliberately causing harm or damage

  Familiarity information: MISCHIEVOUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MISCHIEVOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Naughtily or annoyingly playful

Synonyms:

arch; impish; implike; mischievous; pixilated; prankish; puckish; wicked

Context example:

a wicked prank

Similar:

playful (full of fun and high spirits)

Derivation:

mischievousness (the trait of behaving like an imp)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Deliberately causing harm or damage

Context example:

mischievous rumors and falsehoods

Similar:

harmful (causing or capable of causing harm)

Derivation:

mischief (reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others)

mischief (the quality or nature of being harmful or evil)

mischievousness (reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others)

 Context examples 

“There are cases enough here, Watson,” said he, looking at me with mischievous eyes.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I quite understand your position,” said Holmes, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Suddenly he turned upon me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Fly at me again. I rather liked it," said Laurie, looking mischievous, a thing he had not done for a fortnight.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“That is a question you must settle with Mr. Van Weyden there,” he replied, nodding to me with a mischievous twinkle.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

You really have done your hair in a more heavenly style than ever; you mischievous creature, do you want to attract everybody?

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Emma was very willing now to acquit her of having seduced Mr. Dixon's actions from his wife, or of any thing mischievous which her imagination had suggested at first.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The behavior of the audience at present was good-humored, but mischievous.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He shot a mischievous glance at my mother as he spoke, and she laid down her knitting on her lap and looked very earnestly at him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)