MISCHIEVOUS

mischievous

(adjective) deliberately causing harm or damage; “mischievous rumors and falsehoods”

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

(adjective) naughtily or annoyingly playful; “teasing and worrying with impish laughter”; “a wicked prank”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

mischievous (comparative more mischievous, superlative most mischievous)

Causing mischief; injurious.

Troublesome, cheeky, badly behaved.

Usage notes

The spelling "misch(i)evious" and similar ones can be found since the 16th century, so the corresponding pronunciation is at least as old. But despite being common in a wide range of social classes today, these spellings and the corresponding pronunciation are still considered nonstandard and often viewed as incorrect.

Synonyms

• (causing mischief): harmful, hurtful, detrimental, noxious, pernicious, destructive; see also harmful

• (badly-behaved): badly-behaved, naughty

Anagrams

• mischevious

Source: Wiktionary

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Mis"chie*vous, a.

Definition: Causing mischief; harmful; hurtful; -- now often applied where the evil is done carelessly or in sport; as, a mischievous child. "Most mischievous foul sin." Shak. This false, wily, doubling disposition is intolerably mischievous to society. South.

Syn.

– Harmful; hurtful; detrimental; noxious; pernicious; destructive.

– Mis"chie*vous*ly, adv.

– Mis"chie*vous*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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