English

Alternative forms

• mischievious, mischevious (nonstandard forms)

Adjective

mischievous ‎(comparative more mischievous, superlative most mischievous)

1. Causing mischief; injurious.
   • 1793, Joseph Butler, The Analogy of Religion:

     ...; that good and bad actions at present are naturally rewarded and punished, not only as beneficial and mischievous to society, but also as virtuous and civious; ...

   • 1892, Henry Sidgwick, Outlines of the History of Ethics:

     On the whole, therefore, he concludes that the point of indulgence at which these self-passions or self-affections begin to be mischievous to the individual coincides with that at which they begin to be mischievous to society; ...

2. Troublesome, cheeky, badly behaved.

   Matthew had a twin brother called Edward, who was always mischievous and 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 seen as a sign of a lack of education.

Synonyms

• (causing mischief): harmful, hurtful, detrimental, noxious, pernicious, destructive; see also Wikisaurus:harmful
• (badly-behaved): badly-behaved, naughty

Derived terms

• mischievously
• mischievousness

Translations

Anagrams

• mischevious