Synonyms of trouble

trouble 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrə-bəl 

1

as in disease

an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning

hoping that the doctor will be able to accurately diagnose my trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disease
• ailment
• illness
• ill
• condition
• disorder
• fever
• sickness
• bug
• attack
• infection
• complication
• malady
• ail
• complaint
• plague
• infirmity
• distemper
• affection
• distemperature
• contagious disease
• contagion
• bout
• unsoundness
• spell
• weakness
• lameness
• feebleness
• malaise
• matter
• fit
• debility
• epidemic
• pestilence
• unhealthiness
• decrepitude
• sickliness
• contagium
• pip
• pest
• unwellness
• frailness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• health
• wellness
• soundness
• fitness
• robustness
• shape
• wholeness
• wholesomeness
• healthiness
• heartiness
• fettle

2

as in threat

something that may cause injury or harm

that wild dog is trouble, so stay away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• threat
• danger
• risk
• menace
• peril
• hazard
• pitfall
• imminence
• snare
• trap
• booby trap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protection
• guard
• ward
• shield
• refuge
• shelter
• harbor
• retreat
• safeguard
• haven
• asylum

3

as in problem

something that requires thought and skill for resolution

the police officers first broke up the fight and then asked what the trouble was

Synonyms & Similar Words

• problem
• challenge
• matter
• issue
• case
• question
• predicament
• nut
• dilemma
• knot
• hot water
• quandary
• pickle
• quagmire
• jam
• fix
• corner
• mystery
• crux
• conundrum
• puzzle
• glitch
• mire
• pitfall
• riddle
• snag
• hitch
• spot
• Gordian knot
• catch
• enigma
• puzzlement
• sticky wicket
• hole
• toughie
• catch-22
• poser
• stumper
• brainteaser

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• solution
• answer
• silver bullet
• magic bullet
• panacea
• cure-all

4

as in effort

the active use of energy in producing a result

please, don't go to all that trouble just for me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• effort
• work
• pains
• sweat
• exertion
• expenditure
• energy
• while
• labor
• elbow grease
• try
• toil
• power
• strain
• drudgery
• might
• attempt
• muscle
• endeavor
• dint
• travail
• go
• grind
• slog
• trial
• pass
• stab
• essay
• force
• whack
• shot
• fling
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ease
• facility
• smoothness
• fluency
• inertia
• inaction
• laziness
• inactivity
• indolence
• idleness
• adroitness
• dormancy
• quiescence
• languor

5

as in risk

the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil

if you think your brother might be in trouble, then let's go check up on him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• risk
• danger
• jeopardy
• peril
• distress
• endangerment
• harm's way
• threat
• imperilment
• exposure
• vulnerability
• openness
• susceptibility
• precariousness
• liability
• helplessness
• weakness
• susceptibleness
• defenselessness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• safety
• security
• salvation
• preservation
• protection
• defense
• secureness
• exemption
• safeness
• immunity
• impunity
• inviolability
• invulnerability

trouble

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to worry

to experience concern or anxiety

don't trouble about me—I'll be fine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worry
• fear
• stress
• fret
• bother
• fuss
• stew
• sweat
• give a hang
• long
• sweat blood
• despair
• pine
• yearn
• agonize
• chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• take
• endure
• bear
• tolerate
• sustain
• abide
• stick out
• stomach

2

as in to bother

to cause discomfort to or trouble for

I hate to trouble you, but would you mind moving for a minute so I can sweep under your chair?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• inconvenience
• weigh
• disturb
• put out
• upset
• discommode
• burden
• disoblige
• anger
• incommode
• annoy
• bug
• hinder
• interfere (with)
• aggravate
• impede
• hamper
• handicap
• saddle
• provoke
• hold back
• vex
• exasperate
• tie up
• irk
• obstruct
• encumber
• inhibit
• get
• hobble
• hamstring
• chafe
• hold up
• shackle
• rile
• pique
• fetter
• grate
• gall
• inflame
• agitate
• peeve
• perturb
• trammel
• manacle
• nettle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• assist
• aid
• favor
• accommodate
• oblige
• facilitate
• ease
• smooth
• please
• delight
• satisfy
• appease
• abet
• comfort
• disarm
• gratify
• content
• placate
• pacify
• conciliate
• mollify
• console
• gladden

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of trouble

Noun

The trouble began early, when Douglas spoke with Kathleen Turner about bringing her back. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026

In June 2022, Christopher Hawley had trouble walking immediately after riding the roller coaster, then lost consciousness. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Half-Mast The first sign that a deer is troubled comes when that long tail goes to half-mast—straight out behind—and stays rigid for a few seconds before dropping and then flicking right back up. — Tom Carpenter, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026

Other European nations were also troubled by the president’s threat. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2026