troublemaker

noun

Definition of troublemakernext
as in agitator
a person who causes trouble; a person who creates problems or difficulties involving other people He had the reputation of being a troublemaker in high school.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of troublemaker Speaking at the 9/11 memorial ceremony, the son of one of the victims, in an impassioned plea, called on troublemakers to stop using the day to spread Islamophobia and hate. — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 The alleged spending was so lavish that the judge overseeing Lam's initial court appearance in Miami invoked a famous Hollywood troublemaker after hearing a prosecutor describe it. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026 And all you Chicken Jockey popcorn-throwing troublemakers — your impact on moviedom has been swept from the theater. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026 In fact, in the early days of Trumpism’s rise the South Carolina Senator attempted to block it from taking hold of a party that, just eight years earlier, had once been helmed by Graham’s best friend and fellow Senate troublemaker John McCain. — Philip Elliott, Time, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for troublemaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublemaker
  1. tease
  2. harasser
  3. agitator
  4. instigator
  5. teaser
Noun
  • Last night's Roadster demo was something of a tease, for the car is not yet in showrooms.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The Harlem rapper chose 2026, after a few teases and false starts, to end an eight-year gap in his discography.
    — Elise Brisco, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • Parton’s ability to become the harasser without falling into some version of male drag makes this short sequence far superior to the many films with a similar premise that followed.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • White stars can help by publicly supporting their Black colleagues, who are especially targeted by online trolls and harassers.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of harasser
Noun
  • Scores of pages of planning documents and social media posts analyzed by Fox News Digital reveal that agitators have laid the groundwork for a coordinated campaign with money, logistics and a communications infrastructure behind their efforts.
    — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • An agitator jumped onto the hood of an ICE vehicle and the officer driving applied the brakes.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of agitator
Noun
  • Colorado then played almost 17 minutes with 10 forwards when Fedor Svechkov drew a two-minute instigator penalty, five minutes for fighting and 10 more for misconduct.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Maggie’s actually the one who was the instigator, unlocking Lizzie’s birdcage.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of instigator
Noun
  • In keeping with the spooky vibe of their eponymous 2009 debut LP, the brief teaser video has a distinctly Halloween-appropriate air.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After a Wicker teaser dropped in August, the internet instantly got hot and bothered over this attractive man made from wicker.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of teaser

Browse Nearby Words

troubled
troublemaker
troublemakers
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Cite this Entry

“Troublemaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublemaker. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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