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
  • Even though the chat took place at the Javits Center, where New York Comic Con will be held over the next few days, the point of the session was not plot teases or fan service.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • That last detail was doing double duty as a tease for a new product from Bieber coming our way soon.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 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
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Cite this Entry

“Troublemaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublemaker. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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