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
Her Ashley is the movie’s fourth and fifth wheel, dismissed as both a perfidious troublemaker and a New Age airhead—a life coach in need of a wife coach.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
With warm summer waters still lingering in the North Sea, plant operators and marine scientists will be watching closely for the next unpredictable wave of these gelatinous troublemakers.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2025
The curricular aid is aimed at some real troublemakers: students, ages 2-8.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
In the modern Middle East, a resounding blow against a troublemaker has rarely resulted in conciliation, capitulation, or even durable de-escalation.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for troublemaker
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
With warm summer waters still lingering in the North Sea, plant operators and marine scientists will be watching closely for the next unpredictable wave of these gelatinous troublemakers.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2025
The curricular aid is aimed at some real troublemakers: students, ages 2-8.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
In the modern Middle East, a resounding blow against a troublemaker has rarely resulted in conciliation, capitulation, or even durable de-escalation.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for troublemaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublemaker
Noun
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Country music’s premier agitator, Gavin Adcock, is also on the lineup.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
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But while that may serve Natthaphong’s interests to appear as the chief agitator for reform, losing his military foil could conversely prove problematic.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At the same time, New Heights and Swift's Instagram accounts released a joint teaser from Wednesday's podcast episode, in which Swift announced the news.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
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The short teaser clip focuses on Mike Carroll and his quest to bring his family’s biggest skeleton to light.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That’s quite a tease, not to mention a lot of pressure to put on her 12th release.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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Living together in the Fear House, a group of strangers face OMG stunts, challenges, and a twisted game of social strategy, Banijay teases.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Jia is critical of this, making references to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as an instigator to rapid growth across the country.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
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Naming an interstate war based on the state in which the war is fought – while omitting the name of outside instigators – implies the culpability of that state.—
Esther Brito Ruiz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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 7 Oct. 2025.
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