frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

destruction, misfortune, evil: He didn't realize the mischief a
casual remark could do. She was accused of malicious mischief
when she punctured his car tyres.
mischievous
adj. 1 naughty, impish, roguish, rascally, devilish, elfish or
elvish, puckish, scampish, frolicsome, playful, sportive: Tying
his cousin's shoelaces together was a mischievous prank and not
malicious. 2 harmful, injurious, hurtful, damaging, pernicious,
detrimental, destructive, deleterious, dangerous, spiteful,
malicious, vicious, malign, baleful, baneful, noxious, wicked,
evil, bad: The government regards as mischievous the detention
of any Foreign Office personnel.
misconceive
v. misunderstand, misconstrue, misjudge, mistake, misapprehend,
misinterpret, misread, get or have the wrong idea, get or have
(hold of) the wrong end of the stick: He has misconceived the
purpose in banning firearms.
misconception
n. false or wrong notion or idea, misunderstanding,
misconstruction, misconstrual, misjudgement, miscalculation,
misapprehension, mistaken belief, error, mistake, delusion: The
confused wording of the warranty could result in a misconception
of one's rights.
miscreant n. 1 villain, wretch, mischief-maker, scamp, rascal, criminal,
evil-doer, felon, malefactor, rogue, reprobate, scoundrel,
wrongdoer, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, blackguard,
hooligan, ruffian, hoodlum, thug, rowdy, Archaic knave, caitiff,
varlet, rapscallion, Colloq crook, roughneck, scallywag or
scalawag, Slang hood, Brit mug, rough, Australian larrikin, US
baddy, bad actor: The police have apprehended the miscreant who
had been attacking passers-by.
--adj. 2 villainous, wretched, mischievous, rascally, criminal,
felonious, corrupt, malefic, malevolent, evil, depraved, base,
nefarious, iniquitous, vicious, unprincipled, ne'er-do-well,
reprobate, scoundrelly, wicked: The miscreant terrorists may be
hiding in Greece.
misdeed n. Often, misdeeds. offence, crime, felony, wrongdoing,