troublemaker
/'trʌbl,meikə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A person who habitually causes problems or difficulties: Someone who intentionally creates disturbances, conflicts, or unrest, often by provoking others or breaking rules. - A person who deliberately stirs up trouble: Someone whose actions are calculated to cause inconvenience, discord, or disruption in a group or situation.
Usage
The word "troublemaker" is used to label a person whose behavior is seen as a source of problems. It carries a negative connotation and is often used in contexts like schools, workplaces, communities, or social groups to describe someone who disrupts harmony or order. - It is typically used as a countable noun. - It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is more common in everyday speech.
Examples
- The teacher asked the two known troublemakers to stay after class.
- He was labeled a troublemaker at work for constantly questioning management's decisions.
- Community leaders urged parents to talk to their children and discourage them from being troublemakers.
- The protest was peaceful until a few troublemakers started throwing objects.
Advanced Usage
- Professional/Formal Contexts: In legal or HR contexts, "troublemaker" might be considered too informal or judgmental. Alternatives like "disruptive individual" or "instigator" may be preferred.
- The report identified several instigators of the conflict. (Here, "instigators" is a more formal synonym.)
- As a modifier: While "troublemaker" itself is a noun, it can function attributively before other nouns.
- The principal addressed the school's troublemaker problem.
Variants and Related Words
- Troublemaking (noun/adj): The act or practice of causing trouble. Can be used as a noun ("His troublemaking got him expelled") or an adjective ("a troublemaking student").
- Trouble (noun/verb): The core word meaning problems or difficulty. "Troublemaker" is a compound noun derived from "trouble" + "maker."
Synonyms
- Instigator: A person who initiates something, especially something disruptive.
- Agitator: A person who stirs up public feeling, especially on political or social issues.
- Mischief-maker: A person who causes minor trouble or annoyance, often in a playful or mischievous way.
- Rabble-rouser: A person who stirs up the passions or prejudices of a group, typically for political reasons.
Antonyms
- Peacemaker: A person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries.
- Mediator: A person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To stir up trouble: This phrase describes the action typical of a troublemaker.
- He's always trying to stir up trouble between the two departments.
- A bad apple: An idiom for a person who causes problems or has a bad influence on others in a group.
- The manager warned that one bad apple could spoil the whole team.
Noun
- someone who deliberately stirs up trouble