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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Recent Examples of troublemaker
Photograph courtesy Peter Matthiessen estate The second of three children, Matthiessen was the resident troublemaker.
—
Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Sometimes there’s a kid who is labeled a ‘troublemaker’ who just needs to be heard.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
That shouldn’t be a problem, as Taylor would never be mistaken for a troublemaker.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
Across China, tens of thousands of people tagged as troublemakers like the Yangs are trapped in a digital cage, barred from leaving their province and sometimes even their homes by the world’s largest digital surveillance apparatus.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for troublemaker
Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Sometimes there’s a kid who is labeled a ‘troublemaker’ who just needs to be heard.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
That shouldn’t be a problem, as Taylor would never be mistaken for a troublemaker.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
Across China, tens of thousands of people tagged as troublemakers like the Yangs are trapped in a digital cage, barred from leaving their province and sometimes even their homes by the world’s largest digital surveillance apparatus.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for troublemaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublemaker
Noun
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As Border patrol arrested one individual, who actively resisted arrest, pepper spray was deployed spray to deter the agitator and disperse the crowd.—
NPR,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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Over a dozen agitators showed up to disrupt Sunday’s rally along Capitol Boulevard.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The follow-up tease showed someone holding a bunch of wires, insinuating that her costume likely has some animatronics involved.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
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The label on this one is like a tease.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The teaser does not capture Carmela’s reply.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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Fans got a glimpse of Jaafar in the role during the November 2025 teaser trailer, which showed the first footage of the young star replicating his uncle's iconic choreography.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Ruff thought the hit was high and also thought McCabe got his gloves off before Tuch, so the instigator was a confusing one.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
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The Speaker instead condemned political violence in all its forms, while accusing the left of being the instigator of most political violence in the country.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Initially, the Kruegers complained to police, but were told there was nothing the authorities could do unless the harasser tried to harm them physically.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
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The documentary tells the true story of a teenage couple relentlessly bullied via text by an anonymous harasser.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Troublemaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublemaker. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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