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 The Hooligan Who Rewrote the Rules Kea parrots are already famous for being troublemakers. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 This year’s milestone edition furthers that legacy by pairing foundational film voices with the next generation of artistic troublemakers. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 The book looked at the world of a swath of Irish women emigrants who were deemed troublemakers, highlighting that for a period of time, Irish women outnumbered Irish men in prison. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 To help boost those numbers, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) recently released a brief PSA video advising on the best ways to locate and dispatch the ongoing troublemakers. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for troublemaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublemaker
  1. tease
  2. harasser
  3. agitator
  4. teaser
  5. instigator
Noun
  • The Venice Film Festival is providing a little erotic tease ahead of its official program, screening Italian softcore thriller Deadly Sweet in its pre-opening slot ahead of this year’s event.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
  • Dancehall sounds like a tease in the dead of winter.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • There is just no defending that behavior, and the harasser/scumbag should walk the plank, so to speak.
    — Geoff Clark OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026
  • Still, the star did not name her harassers.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 22 May 2026
Definition of harasser
Noun
  • Videos showed police beating back agitators with batons and deploying anti-riot ordnance as the demonstrators chanted against the country's conservative Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a massive political rally.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • White attributed most of the hateful comments to online agitators rather than true WNBA or Indiana Fever fans.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of agitator
Noun
  • Alongside the release date announcement, a new teaser shows intense footage of Ali training with the goal of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 6 July 2026
  • Crossword puzzles and brain teasers have long been touted as ways to keep the mind sharp.
    — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 6 July 2026
Definition of teaser
Noun
  • Heat coach Erik Spoelstra at the time downplayed the confrontation, with the Heat routinely making peace after acquiring former Heat instigators.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
  • Which is why this opinion piece speculates that the spending effect of growth in the form of high demand for all things Swift and World Cup is a relative growth somnolent as opposed to an instigator.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Definition of instigator

Browse Nearby Words

troubled
troublemaker
troublemakers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Troublemaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublemaker. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on troublemaker

Nglish: Translation of troublemaker for Spanish Speakers

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