as in torturers
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 troublemakers
Iris Apatow and Costa D'Angelo are the latest troublemakers to stir the pot at Baird.
—
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
Mindy went from having sort of nothing to too much, and the idea of Mindy and Alfie was just too irresistible, these two troublemakers who find each other.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 21 Dec. 2025
Across China, tens of thousands of people tagged as troublemakers like the Yangs are trapped in a digital cage, barred from leaving their province and sometimes even their homes by the world’s largest digital surveillance apparatus.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
In a recent study published in Nature Aging, researchers at UC San Francisco sought to identify the molecular troublemakers that cause our brains to age prematurely.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 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
Krampus isn’t all bad, though, as his deployment of corporal punishment is intended to drive troublemakers into a life of virtue.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2024
Or deck out your house with nifty security devices like video doorbells and indoor cameras to keep an eye on pets, kids, and other troublemakers.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024
Workers, too, are increasingly leery of their employers, who, for their part, see those fighting for greater freedom of association as troublemakers.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
Mindy went from having sort of nothing to too much, and the idea of Mindy and Alfie was just too irresistible, these two troublemakers who find each other.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 21 Dec. 2025
Across China, tens of thousands of people tagged as troublemakers like the Yangs are trapped in a digital cage, barred from leaving their province and sometimes even their homes by the world’s largest digital surveillance apparatus.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
In a recent study published in Nature Aging, researchers at UC San Francisco sought to identify the molecular troublemakers that cause our brains to age prematurely.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 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
Krampus isn’t all bad, though, as his deployment of corporal punishment is intended to drive troublemakers into a life of virtue.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2024
Or deck out your house with nifty security devices like video doorbells and indoor cameras to keep an eye on pets, kids, and other troublemakers.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024
Workers, too, are increasingly leery of their employers, who, for their part, see those fighting for greater freedom of association as troublemakers.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublemakers
Noun
-
The prisoners got out and the saw the torturers.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Jan. 2026
-
As my experience showed, a heavy reliance on physical abuse makes for proficient torturers, not skilled interrogators.—
Elizabeth Tsurkov,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Moreover, when harassers disproportionately target women, people of color and LGBTQ officials, entire communities are systematically excluded from participation in self-governance.—
Ernestine Nettles,
Mercury News,
22 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Fans were treated to short voice memos — including snippets of Styles singing teases of new music — and a gradual drip of album details.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
While this time around things went a bit smoother, the Step Up actress teases that, still, plenty of chaos will ensue.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Continue reading … FAITH MEETS FURY – Pastors warn of 'chilling effect' after anti-ICE agitators storm Minnesota church service.—
,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
On Sunday, January 18, a group of agitators jarringly disrupted our worship gathering.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Troublemakers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublemakers. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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