troublemakers

NOUN

person who causes a problem

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitator

STRONG

firebrand gremlin heel hellion incendiary inciter instigator meddler mischief-maker nuisance phony punk rabble-rouser rascal recreant snake weasel

WEAK

agent provocateur bad actor inflamer loose cannon smart aleck stormy petrel

Antonyms

WEAK

peacemaker

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

troublemakers

Though there have been stories about kids cutting through the pouches or duping administrators by putting in decoy phones, those troublemakers amount to only a small percentage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Smith denied they had ripped out any ancient hedgerows and said those responsible were not troublemakers.

From BBC ● May 6, 2026

Local media coverage of the demonstrations has varied, with some outlets focusing on economic difficulties, and others on incidents caused by "troublemakers".

From Barron's ● Jan. 1, 2026

Araceli’s mother said that workers are afraid to complain about heat or other working conditions because they don’t want to be singled out as troublemakers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2025

Jackson had popular support against a group many Americans thought were troublemakers.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis