trouble

contagion, contagious disease

contagium, infection

attack, bout, fit, spell

debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness

malaise, matter, pip

epidemic, pest, pestilence, plague

snare, trap

booby trap

issue, question

corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, mire, pickle, predicament, quagmire, spot

crux, Gordian knot, sticky wicket, toughie (also toughy)

catch-22, dilemma, quandary

catch, glitch, hitch, pitfall, snag

conundrum, enigma, mystery, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle

brainteaser, poser, stumper

drudgery, grind, slog, strain, toil, travail

dint, energy

force, might, muscle, power, puissance

attempt, endeavor, essay, fling, go, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack

exposure, liability, openness, vulnerability

precariousness, threat

susceptibility, susceptibleness

defenselessness, helplessness, weakness

agonize

long, pine, yearn

chafe

despair

burden, encumber, saddle, weigh

fetter, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel

aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, get, irk, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex

grate, inflame (also enflame), provoke

agitate, perturb, upset