Mischief vs. Thug

Mischiefnoun

(uncountable) Conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance.

‘Drink led to mischief.’;

Thugnoun

Someone with an intimidating and unseemly appearance and mannerisms, who treats others violently and roughly, often for hire.

Mischiefnoun

(countable) A playfully annoying action.

‘John's mischief, tying his shoelaces together, irked George at first.’;

Thugnoun

(historical) One of a band of assassins formerly active in northern India who worshipped Kali and offered their victims to her.

Mischiefnoun

(collective) A group or a pack of rats.

Thugnoun

In gardening, an over-vigorous plant that spreads and dominates the flowerbed.

Mischiefnoun

(archaic) Harm or injury:

Thugnoun

A punk; a hoodlum; a hooligan.

Mischiefnoun

(uncountable) Harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause.

‘She had mischief in her heart.’; ‘Sooner or later he'll succeed in doing some serious mischief.’;

Thugverb

To commit acts of thuggery, to live the life of a thug, or to dress and act in a manner reminiscent of someone who does.

Mischiefnoun

(countable) An injury or an instance of harm or trouble caused by a person or other agent or cause.

‘It may end in her doing a great mischief to herself—and perhaps to others too.’;

Thugnoun

One of an association of robbers and murderers in India who practiced murder by stealthy approaches, and from religious motives. They have been nearly exterminated by the British government.

Mischiefnoun

A cause or agent of annoyance, harm or injury, especially a person who causes mischief.

Thugnoun

An assassin; a ruffian; a rough.

Mischiefnoun

(euphemism) The Devil; used as an expletive.

Thugnoun

an aggressive and violent young criminal

Mischiefnoun

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.’; ‘The practice whereof shall, I hope, secure me from many mischiefs.’;

Mischiefnoun

Cause of trouble or vexation; trouble.

‘The mischief was, these allies would never allow that the common enemy was subdued.’;

Mischiefverb

To do harm to.

Mischiefnoun

reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others

Mischiefnoun

the quality or nature of being harmful or evil

Mischief

Mischief or malicious mischief is the specific name for different criminal offenses in a number of different jurisdictions. While the wrongful acts will often involve what is popularly described as vandalism, there can be a legal differentiation between the two.