troublemaker

noun

trou·​ble·​mak·​er ˈtrə-bəl-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce troublemaker (audio)
Synonyms of troublemakernext
: a person who consciously or unconsciously causes trouble
troublemaking adjective or noun

Examples of troublemaker in a Sentence

He had the reputation of being a troublemaker in high school.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The book looked at the world of Bad Bridgets, a swath of Irish women emigrants that were deemed troublemakers, noting that for a time Irish women outnumbered Irish men in prison. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026 When troublemaker Arlene moves in across the street to live with her father, Maria falls helplessly under her corrupting influence. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 Climate troublemaker El Niño can cause heat waves, droughts and flooding around the world. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026 And then there’s that bag stuffed with cash and drugs, the real troublemaker. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for troublemaker

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of troublemaker was circa 1914

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Troublemaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troublemaker. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

troublemaker

noun
trou·​ble·​mak·​er ˈtrəb-əl-ˌmā-kər How to pronounce troublemaker (audio)
: a person who causes problems or disagreements

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