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
  • McEwen offered a cryptic tease about what audiences can expect.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • One may be returning to the fold, according to a new social media tease.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 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
  • The agitator never appeared, but the threat left the staff on edge throughout the day.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Connor Clattenburg is a throwback player who can play agitator and enforcer and chip in with goals.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of agitator
Noun
  • Said another way, Meta’s social media are an instigator of the community and living that are enemies of depression and mental instability.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The use of simplified Chinese, used in China, found in internal documents linked to the hack suggests a high probability that the instigator, whether public or private, is linked to China, experts said.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of instigator
Noun
  • For now there’s just a teaser, but a fuller, freakier trailer should be coming later this month.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The brothers also may have wanted to dodge questions regarding rumors about a new tour, with the band posting cryptic teasers on social media the past several days.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 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 12 Sep. 2026.

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