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Definition of troublesome

troublesome

/ˈtrʌb.əl.səm/
trou · ble · some
Adverb:troublesomely
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troublesome Lexical Profile

troublesome Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing difficulty, annoyance, or anxiety; hard to deal with or manage.

Example

"The mechanic spent hours diagnosing a troublesome rattle in the engine."

2

Prone to causing disruption, mischief, or disobedience.

Example

"The teacher seated the troublesome students at the front of the classroom to keep a closer eye on them."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for troublesome
Antonyms
View all antonyms for troublesome

• Nearby Words

troubleshoot
troubleshooter
troubleshooting
troublesome
troublesomely
troublesomeness
troubling

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the mid-16th century, formed from the noun 'trouble' (derived via Old French from Latin 'turbidus', meaning 'full of confusion or turmoil') and the native English suffix '-some'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Troublesome. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/troublesome
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