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 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 In the movie, Broderick played Ferris, a teenage troublemaker who breaks the rules — and the fourth wall. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 Based on the true story of a reform school where Black boys went missing, the novel pairs the stories of two teens, one a troublemaker and the other caught up by mistake. — Los Angeles Times, 20 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
  • The new trailer offers a brief tease of the instantly-iconic concert, in which Winter headlined Carnegie Hall for one night only at the age of 23.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The exhibition schedule and summer league tend to be seasons of tease.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 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
  • Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez also cited agitators moving between schools to encourage violence.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Advertisement As protests intensified, state media unleashed a frenzied smear campaign, casting Egyptian protesters as foreign agents and outside agitators.
    — Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of agitator
Noun
  • Maggie’s actually the one who was the instigator, unlocking Lizzie’s birdcage.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Kanarek told me that Gray’s antagonism, at the meeting and at other times, positions her as the ultimate instigator of the shooting.
    — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of instigator
Noun
  • That reveal came at the very end of the panel in a teaser video that noted more details will be shared during Jump Festa 2027 in December.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The wording seemed to suggest that the sneakers, after years of various teasers, would finally arrive at retail.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of teaser

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 17 Oct. 2026.

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