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
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
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
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For decades, generals, coup-plotters, and torturers walked free under the shield of amnesty laws passed after the country’s 21-year dictatorship.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Each regime, from the Pahlavi dynasty to the Islamic Republic, claimed to uphold human rights and castigated its predecessors as torturers, only to ratchet up the incarceration of political opponents.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Peaky Blinders creator and writer Steven Knight is making good on his many teases that the story of the Shelby family would not end with the original TV series’ sixth season, nor the upcoming feature film.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
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Living together in the Fear House, a group of strangers face OMG stunts, challenges, and a twisted game of social strategy, Banijay teases.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Project Runway host, 52, celebrated the kickoff to her favorite holiday and the beginning of October with teasers for her upcoming Halloween costume.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Actor Zac Efron, NBA star Jimmy Butler and MMA fighter Paddy Pimblett simultaneously posted similar-style teasers through their Instagram accounts on Saturday.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Troublemakers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublemakers. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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