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
  • The final exchange is honestly the strangest and teases what’s in store for this week’s SNL episode.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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 incident came as agitators against immigration adopt a confrontational new tactic of trying to stop the boats landing on England’s shores, clashing with police and rescue workers in the process.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Among the agitators were the workers at Sytin’s Moscow publishing house.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 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
  • Swift also released some teaser footage from the video on Instagram (below).
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Later in the teaser, Johnson appears in white, which suggests some kind of wedding imagery?
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 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 3 Oct. 2026.

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