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Synonyms

troublemaker

American  
[truhb-uhl-mey-ker] / ˈtrʌb əlˌmeɪ kər /

noun

  • troublemakers
    plural
  1. a person who causes difficulties, distress, worry, etc., for others, especially one who does so habitually as a matter of malice.

    Synonyms:
    rabble-rouser, inciter, fomenter, instigator

troublemaker British  
/ ˈtrʌbəlˌmeɪkə /

noun

  1. a person who makes trouble, esp between people

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of troublemaker

First recorded in 1910–15; trouble + maker

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Even as he drew attention as a troublemaker among some of his bosses, according to people who worked with him, he grew close to the industry’s top players.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 26, 2026

Throughout his school years and into college, Turner had a reputation as a troublemaker.

From The Wall Street Journal May 6, 2026

But Chinese authorities and state media have heaped bitter rhetoric against him, calling him a "troublemaker" and "warmonger".

From BBC Apr. 10, 2026

When troublemaker Arlene moves in across the street to live with her father, Maria falls helplessly under her corrupting influence.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 17, 2026

Being a troublemaker had been fun, but she’d never done it for the sake of being difficult.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

The latter is sung by “SNL” alum Ana Gasteyer, a standout as the unofficial moral enforcer of the town, who sees the strange interlopers as, well, troublemakers.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 21, 2026

Local media coverage of the demonstrations has varied, with some outlets focusing on economic difficulties, and others on incidents caused by "troublemakers".

From Barron's Jan. 1, 2026

Araceli’s mother said that workers are afraid to complain about heat or other working conditions because they don’t want to be singled out as troublemakers.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 20, 2025

"The big unanswered question now is which strains are the healers, and which are the troublemakers."

From Science Daily Nov. 12, 2025

A part of every school day was set aside for punishing troublemakers, and I was often one of them.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

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