Mischievous Meaning
/ˈmɪs.t͡ʃɪ.vəs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjCausing mischief; injurious.
adjTroublesome, cheeky, badly behaved, impish, naughty, disobedient; showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way and liking to have fun by playing harmless tricks on people or doing things they are not supposed to do.
Sentence Examples
It is true the boy is mischievous, but he is kind at heart.
Keep an eye on the boys. They're mischievous.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ dog tore apart the newspaper while its owner was out.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The boy gave his mother a ____ grin, making her realize that he had probably finished all the homemade chocolate cookies.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English myschevous, mischevous, from Anglo-Norman meschevous, from Old French meschever, from mes- (“mis-”) + chever (“come to an end”) (from chef (“head”)). By surface analysis, mischief + -ous.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"...; 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; ..."
— 1793, Joseph Butler, The Analogy of Religion:
"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; ..."
— 1892, Henry Sidgwick, Outlines of the History of Ethics:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ dog tore apart the newspaper while its owner was out.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The boy gave his mother a ____ grin, making her realize that he had probably finished all the homemade chocolate cookies.