troublesome

[ truhb-uhl-suhm ]

adjective

1. causing trouble, annoyance, or difficulty; vexatious:

   a troublesome situation; a troublesome person.

   Synonyms: galling

2. laborious; difficult.

   Synonyms: burdensome, hard, arduous

   Antonyms: easy

3. Archaic. full of distress or affliction.

troublesome

/ ˈtrʌbəlsəm /

adjective

1. causing a great deal of trouble; worrying, upsetting, or annoying
2. characterized by violence; turbulent

Derived Forms

• ˈtroublesomely, adverb
• ˈtroublesomeness, noun

Other Words From

• trouble·some·ly adverb
• trouble·some·ness noun
• un·trouble·some adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of troublesome¹

First recorded in 1540–50; trouble + -some ¹

Example Sentences

Now, it appears that internet access is emerging as a new and troublesome determinant of health.

From Popular-Science

That worry has already prompted some vaccine makers to look for ways to tweak their shots to keep up with these troublesome newcomers.

From Science News

It only feels like there’s something more imminently troublesome going on.

From Popular-Science

After all, teeth are a notoriously troublesome aspect of human anatomy, and dental troubles don’t wait for a pandemic to end before they strike.

From Fortune

Over the last few months, industries in the US have had to contend with a troublesome carbon dioxide shortage.

From Quartz

But this approach can be troublesome for a variety of reasons.

From The Daily Beast

Why the government is so vehemently eager to delist the grizzly remains a troublesome question.

From The Daily Beast

Reputations are constantly being disinterred, re-examined, re-purposed for use in the troublesome present.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, Moscow and Tehran are troublesome today for a variety of good reasons.

From The Daily Beast

The regime has, to date, never definitively weighed in on whether these troublesome critters had imperialist or fascist ties.

From The Daily Beast

My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them.

From Project Gutenberg

He shall not be sad, nor troublesome, till he set judgment in the earth, and the islands shall wait for his law.

From Project Gutenberg

As already reported in my telegram, fire from the Asiatic shore is at times troublesome, but I am taking steps to deal with it.

From Project Gutenberg

The first method is the more troublesome, but, without comparison, the better one.

From Project Gutenberg

I caught a violent cold the very same day: it has settled in my eyes, I believe, for they have been troublesome to me ever since.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alarming
• annoying
• burdensome
• damaging
• dangerous
• difficult
• inconvenient
• intractable
• irksome
• irritating
• messy
• painful
• problematic
• taxing
• tough
• tricky
• ugly
• unruly
• vexing
• worrying