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Glite Dictionary
malicious mischief

malicious mischief

1 8.2
A crime of damaging another person's property on purpose
  • noun
  • /məˈlɪʃəs ˈmɪsʧəf/
  • Jargon
translation icon : daño malicioso
  • The group of teenagers was caught committing malicious mischief by vandalizing the public park.
  • charge of malicious mischief

Examples

  • Malicious mischief, vandalism, harassment.

    The Game (1997)

  • After the window was broken, the police filed a report on the malicious mischief that occurred last night.

  • The neighborhood was alarmed by recent incidents of malicious mischief involving graffiti on local businesses.

Synonyms

vandalism
vsmalicious mischief
57 4.1

Damage done on purpose to other people's property, like graffiti or broken windows

is used especially as a criminal offense term for willful property destruction
mischief
vsmalicious mischief
27 3.2

Bad actions that cause harm to people or property on purpose

is specifically about willful destruction of another person's property as a crime
defacement
vsmalicious mischief
1 7.4

Damage to the surface or appearance of something, often done on purpose

focuses on complete destruction rather than only harming appearance or surface
vandalization
vsmalicious mischief
1 5.8

Damage done on purpose to public or private property including things online

is limited to willful destruction of another person's property, often as a crime

How Serious

arson
97 5.1
malicious mischief
  • Jargon
1 8.2
petit larceny
  • Formal
8.2

Surface Forms

malicious mischief singular
malicious mischiefs plural

Morphology

malicious + mischief

The phrase combines 'malicious' (intent to harm) with 'mischief' (deliberate harmful action), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it refers to intentionally harmful or vandalistic behaviour. While legal nuance about property destruction and criminal charges is more specific, the overall meaning is compositionally predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Malicious mischief uses malicious, meaning 'wanting to harm', and mischief, meaning 'causing trouble', so picture someone breaking a neighbor's window or scratching a car just to hurt or annoy. That's why the phrase means 'damage done on purpose to someone else's property' and is used as a crime charge.