Mis·chief n.
1. Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by thoughtlessness, or in sport.
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs. --Ps. lii. 2.
The practice whereof shall, I hope, secure me from many mischiefs. --Fuller.
2. Cause of trouble or vexation; trouble.
The mischief was, these allies would never allow that the common enemy was subdued. --Swift.
To be in mischief, to be doing harm or causing annoyance.
To make mischief, to do mischief, especially by exciting quarrels.
To play the mischief, to cause great harm; to throw into confusion. [Colloq.]
Syn: -- Damage; harm; hurt; injury; detriment; evil; ill.
Usage: -- Mischief, Damage, Harm. Damage is an injury which diminishes the value of a thing; harm is an injury which causes trouble or inconvenience; mischief is an injury which disturbs the order and consistency of things. We often suffer damage or harm from accident, but mischief always springs from perversity or folly.