ˈmis(h)chə̇vəs, chiefly in substand speech mə̇s(h)ˈchēvəs or -ˈchēvēəs adjective
Etymology: Middle English mischevous, from mischef + -ous
1.
a. : involving or productive of harm or injury : harmful , injurious
a thing which is excellent in moderation and only mischievous in excess — A.C.Benson
this mischievous separation of the logic from the practice of science — Benjamin Farrington
b. : able to do harm or engaged in doing harm
the solid foundations of church and state were threatened by mischievous men — V.L.Parrington
a mischievous fanatic who was trying to destroy liberty of contract — Times Literary Supplement
2.
a. : capable of causing or tending to cause annoyance, trouble, or minor injury or damage to others
windows broken by mischievous children
the younger animals are most mischievous , and I have known bags of flour ripped open and the contents scattered about — James Stevenson-Hamilton
b. : having or expressing a spirit of irresponsible fun or playfulness
this same stimulating and occasionally mischievous style — W.C.Brice
her eyes … had a sharp and mischievous glitter in them — T.B.Costain
• mis·chie·vous·ly adverb
• mis·chie·vous·ness noun -es