mischievous

comparative more mischievous · superlative most mischievous · alternative mischievious · alternative mischevious

1. Causing mischief; injurious.

   ...; 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

   1 more example

   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

   Synonyms: harmful

2. Troublesome, 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.

   Matthew had a twin brother called Edward, who was always mischievous and badly behaved.

   Synonyms: badly-behaved, naughty