TROUBLES Synonyms: 239 Similar and Opposite Words

troubles 1 of 2

noun

plural of trouble

as in ailments

an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning hoping that the doctor will be able to accurately diagnose my trouble

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as in threats

something that may cause injury or harm that wild dog is trouble, so stay away

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as in problems

something that requires thought and skill for resolution the police officers first broke up the fight and then asked what the trouble was

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as in efforts

the active use of energy in producing a result please, don't go to all that trouble just for me

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troubles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of trouble

as in worries

to experience concern or anxiety don't trouble about me—I'll be fine

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as in inconveniences

to cause discomfort to or trouble for I hate to trouble you, but would you mind moving for a minute so I can sweep under your chair?

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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 troubles

Noun

In 1981, Soviet spy Vladimir Kuzichkin offered up critical insider information on Iran’s Tudeh Party to Britain’s MI6 in exchange for discreet assistance with a personal affliction that was at the heart of his marital troubles. — Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026 This year, his boss waged a military war with Iran that continues to exacerbate America’s cost-of-living troubles and rattle the bond market. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026 Before spending money on any fix, pulling up your local water report or using a home testing kit can tell you whether hardness is actually what’s behind your hair troubles. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026 It’s mostly kept out of view, although legal troubles and media cycles sometimes surface details. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 On Stranger Tides featured Depp but no Knightley or Bloom) before both Depp and Rush were waylaid by legal troubles. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2026 However, as injury troubles and a loss of form struck the 6ft 5in Wales international, Smith stepped up, netting eight goals to finish as the club’s third-highest scorer behind Josh Windass (16) and Moore (11). — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Reiter was having her own troubles trying to plan a group trip to a cabin upstate for months. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Another iconic California winemaker is having money troubles. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

The aspect of the painting that troubles me most, though, is the sleeve of Amélie’s dress. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 This moment troubles me not only as a historian, but also as a longtime mentor for college-age student-athletes. — Emily Harrison, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026 But what troubles him most is not only what has disappeared from textbooks. — Fatima Faizi, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 One death especially, that of his young cousin Sinon (Elliot Page), troubles him most of all. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026 The asymmetry—Anthropic penalized while OpenAI was not—is what troubles him most. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026 But what really troubles him is something larger. — Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 19 June 2026 There’s something that troubles her about this. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 What troubles me most is the speed. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for troubles

Noun

However, in the same way that one type of physician cannot work for all ailments, one type of school cannot work for all children.

— Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2026
Many 9/11 first responders alive today feel as Sanchez does, more preoccupied with their survivor’s guilt than their own ailments.

— Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of ailments

Noun

Players have revealed their concerns about harassment and death threats reaching a traumatizing level.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Still, the threats have increased for the islands of Niihau and Kauai because the storm's forecast track has shifted steadily eastward, the National Hurricane Center said.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of threats

Noun

Programs such as HyCAT are intended to provide more frequent opportunities to test technologies in realistic flight conditions, potentially allowing developers to identify problems earlier and iterate more quickly.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
The court also said any problems caused by the timing of the ruling is the fault of the secretary of state, who waited eight months before making a decision on the ballot initiative.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of problems

Noun

The roll call late Tuesday, 220-204, was similar to earlier efforts this summer, with a few more Republicans joining all Democrats voting to bring an end to the conflict.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
The county health department is also continuing to distribute oral rabies vaccines as part of efforts to control the spread of rabies among wildlife, including raccoons and coyotes.

— Ashley Paul, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of efforts

Noun

There will be a seventh bell-tolling this year, for the thousands who have since died by suicide, or from cancer and other illnesses caused by the ravages of terrorism.

— Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
The initiative aims to bring positivity and hope to children battling critical illnesses.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of illnesses

Noun

Technology analysts and traders are not buying the flood of warnings about the dangers of artificial intelligence and the need to slow down development that have recently come from frontier model platforms.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
Fra Fee, as Joe, has a slightly harder task, since his role is almost entirely reactive; while Ethan bangs on mournfully about, effectively, the dangers of shagging your brother’s wife — well, who would have thought?

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026