mischievous
UK: ˈmɪs.tʃɪ.vəs | US: ˈmɪs.tʃə.vəs
adj. causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way
adj. (archaic) harmful or intended to harm
The word traces back to Old French meschief, combining mes- (a negative prefix akin to "mis-") and chief (head or end). Over time, mischief shifted from serious harm to playful naughtiness, and mischievous emerged in the 14th century to describe someone embodying this trait. The spelling stabilized with the -ous suffix, though pronunciation often drops the -i- (e.g., "mis-chee-vus" is nonstandard).
The mischievous kitten knocked over the vase while playing.
His mischievous grin hinted at a prank.
The children were scolded for their mischievous behavior.
Folklore portrays fairies as mischievous but not malicious.
(Archaic) The warlock’s mischievous spells brought ruin to the village.