as in naughty
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as in misbehavior
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of troublemaking
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
Scottish actor John Hannah was Evelyn’s troublemaking brother Jonathan.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Over the years, Greg has gotten into fights with his best friend Rowley and troublemaking brother Rodrick, he’s gone to summer camp and saved his school, even tried his hand (disastrously) at sports.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
There’s an inherent troublemaking nature to him that can’t be repressed by the big Disney musical.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
Scottish actor John Hannah was Evelyn’s troublemaking brother Jonathan.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Over the years, Greg has gotten into fights with his best friend Rowley and troublemaking brother Rodrick, he’s gone to summer camp and saved his school, even tried his hand (disastrously) at sports.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublemaking
Adjective
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The home needed to display her naughty sense of humor too.—
Julie Vadnal,
Architectural Digest,
18 Mar. 2026
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These plays are often brilliant, and even lesser variants are fun to watch, because piñata-whacking itself is a naughty thrill, a cathartic fantasy for anyone with a family and/or a secret.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Usually, that’s celebrity drama and misbehavior by athletes.—
Elex Michaelson,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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Deploying a series of small tweaks that nonetheless feel like a total reinvention, Slayyyter doubles down on misbehavior while simultaneously opening up new lanes of creative potential.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Why must members of the public be disrespected by unruly, misbehaving, noisy children, who are then defended by adults who should know better?—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Ortega said she was motivated to introduce AB 2321 because of what the auditor reported about Cal-OSHA’s Bureau of Investigation, the unit responsible for investigating death and career-ending injuries for criminal misconduct.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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The news that someone was seen with him has, of course, been received with a lot of interest, particularly considering that since his arrest for suspicion of misconduct in public office, neither his ex, Sarah Ferguson, nor his daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, have visited him.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The outlandish schemes of these wily characters have never failed to attract public attention.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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Rather, the hackers Smart and colleagues traced to an IP address in this city have been using the wily method his team uncovered to pilfer millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Four other charges in that case — including assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child — were dismissed with prejudice, the records show.—
Meriam Bouarrouj,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
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Christopher Nastasa, 39, was arrested on 19 charges, including robbery, assault, petit larceny and criminal mischief as hate crimes, for the March 17 attack, according to police.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Once Towns lays the screen for Brunson, Castle switches onto the point guard, a crafty one-on-one scorer who chooses not to go at Castle and swings the ball to the other side of the court.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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So crafty was Domask’s shooting touch, Underwood took to calling him Luka – as in Dončić.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
5 Feb. 2025
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But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.—
Eugenia Bone,
WSJ,
10 July 2019
Cite this Entry
“Troublemaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublemaking. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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