TROUBLOUS Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

troublous

adjective

ˈtrə-b(ə-)ləs

Definition of troublous

as in disturbing

causing worry or anxiety a troublous teen whose antisocial antics had us all on edge

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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 troublous Then there were the ghoulish figures of revolutionary adventurers, the Mexican painter with two pistols in his belt, the men who were carving themselves careers out of these troublous times. — John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublous

Adjective

French President Emanuel Macron delivered a briefing to the candidates running to succeed him so disturbing that even the far-right National Rally’s leaders emerged denouncing Russian hybrid attacks.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
The 72-year-old Cuban widow filed for temporary custody shortly after the disturbing incident.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Adjective

Up close, its elongated head, skeletal body and glistening double set of jaws reveal just how much unsettling detail goes into a creature often glimpsed onscreen in darkness.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Adrià describes a world filtered through adolescence, where people, places and situations can appear idealized, magical or unsettling.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of unsettling

Adjective

More troubling are the circumstances that led to the departures of Lombardi and Belichick's son over the past three weeks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Following a Wall Street Journal report, Google has confirmed that Gemini models hacked three companies during a May 2026 test, but the nature of the intrusion isn’t as troubling (or impressive) as previous AI hacks.

— Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of troubling

Adjective

Antibiotic overuse remains common for other conditions of later life, too, including the kind of urinary tract infections that cause no troublesome symptoms and upper respiratory infections that are typically viral, not bacterial.

— Paula Span, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
In Bad Apples, Maria ends up accidentally taking and locking her troublesome student, Danny, in her home following a series of questionable decisions and a desperate moment.

— Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of troublesome

Adjective

Back then, researchers were focused on eradicating the New World screwworm, a nasty pest that lays its eggs in wounds on living creatures.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Paul and Matthews have been embroiled in a nasty social media feud that sparked after ABC pulled The Bachelorette season 22.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of nasty

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troubling

troublous

trough

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“Troublous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublous. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of troublous

adjective

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