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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 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 She was cast as Athena, the class ‘troublemaker’ was Odysseus, and the school’s headmaster bumbled around, one-eyed, as the Cyclops. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 17 July 2026 Instead, the Plaintiffs were labeled ‘troublemakers’ by the school and, therefore, not trustworthy. — Austin Horn july 14, Miami Herald, 14 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
  • After its pilot tease, Lanterns finally moves into 2026, while staying tethered to some part of its Manhunter mystery.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Even in the age of algorithms, short attention spans and TikTok teases, Warren Buffett continued to profit with his patient bargain-hunting approach while offering folksy advice on investing and life.
    — Josh Funk, Fortune, 19 Sep. 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
  • Among the agitators were the workers at Sytin’s Moscow publishing house.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • In Portsmouth, a group of far-right agitators first attempted to stop lifeboats from bringing the migrants onshore before seeking to block buses from taking the asylum seekers to a processing facility.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of agitator
Noun
  • 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
  • There is a lot of individual goofery in this episode, but Vic’s usually the instigator.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of instigator
Noun
  • His upcoming show next week promises to be another cheeky affair, at least judging by the teaser Martens shared with his 367,000 followers on Instagram on Thursday that showed a woman’s butt and men’s abs behind a steamy glass panel.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In the teaser trailer, Harrison is leaning into the fact that he is best known for hosting The Bachelor and its spinoffs over the last twenty years.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 16 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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