mischievousness
Tendency toward pranks
Mischievousness is the quality of being playfully troublesome or fond of causing minor trouble for amusement.
It suggests lighthearted pranks and teasing rather than genuine harm—a child's mischievousness might involve hiding a sibling's toys or making silly faces during dinner.
The word carries an affectionate tone, implying that the behavior, while perhaps annoying, is ultimately harmless and even endearing.
There was a glint of mischievousness in her eye.
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
escapades · larks · monkeyshines · capers · hijinks · tricks · stunts · misbehavior
Wicked or mischievous conduct
- rascalityDishonest or mischievous conduct
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
- willfulnessIntentional resistance to direction
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
defiance · unruliness · waywardness · brattiness · impishness · troublemaking · rule-breaking · acting out
Whimsically inclined to tease
- elfinSmall and sprite-like
- pixieishResembling a mischievous fairy
- prankishFond of tricks
- devilishWicked or impish
rascally · saucy · pert · cheeky · impudent · sly · arch · roguish
Cunning in manner
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- wilinessShrewd deceptive cleverness
- artfulnessClever, crafty skill
- shrewdnessKeen practical judgment
cleverness · guile · scheming · plotting · conniving · calculating · devious · sneaky
Cheerful and without worry
merry · rollicking · spirited · vivacious · whimsical · frisky · frolicsome · gamesome
pranks
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
high jinks · escapades · larks · monkeyshines · capers · hijinks · tricks · stunts · misbehavior · horseplay
devilry
Wicked or mischievous conduct
- rascalityDishonest or mischievous conduct
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
- willfulnessIntentional resistance to direction
disobedience · defiance · unruliness · waywardness · brattiness · impishness · troublemaking · rule-breaking · acting out · cheekiness
puckish
Whimsically inclined to tease
devilish · rascally · saucy · pert · cheeky · impudent · sly · arch · roguish · waggish
slyness
Cunning in manner
- craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness
- wilinessShrewd deceptive cleverness
- artfulnessClever, crafty skill
shrewdness · cleverness · guile · scheming · plotting · conniving · calculating · devious · sneaky · underhanded
lighthearted
Cheerful and without worry
blithe · merry · rollicking · spirited · vivacious · whimsical · frisky · frolicsome · gamesome · coltish
mischievousnessobedience
Compliance with authority
compliance · good behavior · docility · conformity · dutifulness
mischievousnessseriousness
Earnest, weighty demeanor
solemnity · gravity · earnestness · soberness · staidness
mischievousnessbenevolence
Disposition toward doing good
helpfulness · kindness · considerateness · care · thoughtfulness
mischief, mischievous, mischievously, mischance, mischief-maker, mischances, mischief-makers