troublesome

adjective

ˈtrə-bəl-səm How to pronounce troublesome (audio)
Definition of troublesomenext
as in disturbing
causing worry or anxiety the troublesome news that there will be more cuts in the school budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 troublesome Wright, who had a troublesome training camp last year, which was capped with a knee injury, delivered a couple of first-down runs during Thursday’s non-padded practice. — Omar Kelly august 6, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 Shortly after the Los Angeles Dodgers polished off a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night, Shohei Ohtani checked in with the club’s training staff to report further soreness in his troublesome left knee. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 31 July 2026 This has always been a kind of troublesome event from a point of view of Washington journalism. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 Whiteflies are among the most troublesome, and tomatoes are one of their favorite hosts. — The Spruce, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for troublesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublesome
  1. disturbing
  2. unsettling
  3. troubling
  4. nasty
  5. frightening
Adjective
  • The disturbing incident comes amidst a sharp increase in both felony and misdemeanor assaults in the subway system.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The story follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • The script is generally funny and romantic but can also get unsettling.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Set against the remote, insular world of its titular island, production designer Steve Arnold and set decorator Jennifer Engel created a lived-in, slightly stuck in time and, when necessary, deeply unsettling environment.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsettling
Adjective
  • Looking for a way to prove his value, Jackson instead discovers troubling research from the company’s own climate scientists projecting a rapid rise in global temperatures.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For a brief period Wednesday, the president set aside more troubling issues to revel in his role as White House redeveloper.
    — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of troubling
Adjective
  • The former Cardinal is an absolute brawler with over 90 NFL starts who brings the exact nasty, tone-setting violence this interior unit needs.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Greg and Denise are having some marital issues, but everybody needs to put other concerns aside to stay alive with nasty raptors and other hungry beasties around.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of nasty
Adjective
  • But the ordeal was frightening and bewildering for Cliffel, who still didn't know what had caused her behavior.
    — Deborah Becker, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a frightening imbalance in how the mainstream media report on these candidates, which tends to take it pretty easy on the latter.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightening

Browse Nearby Words

troubleshooters
troublesome
troubling
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Cite this Entry

“Troublesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublesome. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on troublesome

Nglish: Translation of troublesome for Spanish Speakers

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