troubler


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia.

trou·ble

 (trŭb′əl)
n.
1. A state of distress, affliction, difficulty, or need: tried to console them in their trouble; got in trouble with the police.
2. A distressing or difficult circumstance or situation: I've had troubles ever since I took this job.
3. A cause or source of distress, disturbance, or difficulty: The new recruits were a trouble to him.
4. Effort, especially when inconvenient or bothersome: went to a lot of trouble to find this book.
5. A condition of pain, disease, or malfunction: heart trouble; car trouble.
6.
a. Public unrest or disorder.
b. An instance of this; a disturbance.
c. Troubles Any of various conflicts or rebellions in Ireland or Northern Ireland, especially the period of social unrest in Northern Ireland beginning in 1969.
v. trou·bled, trou·bling, trou·bles
v.tr.
1. To afflict with pain or discomfort: My stomach is troubling me.
2.
a. To cause to be anxious or worried: was troubled by the decline in sales.
b. To cause to have emotional or mental problems that interfere with social functioning: a teenager who is troubled and needs help.
3. To inconvenience; bother: May I trouble you for directions?
4. To agitate; stir up: winds troubling the waters.
v.intr.
To take pains: They trouble over every detail.

[Middle English, from Old French, from troubler, to trouble, from Vulgar Latin *turbulāre, alteration (influenced by Latin turbula, small group, diminutive of turba, crowd) of Late Latin turbidāre, from Latin turbidus, confused; see turbid.]

trou′bler n.
trou′bling·ly adv.
Synonyms: trouble, ail, distress, worry
These verbs mean to cause anxious uneasiness in: His behavior troubles his parents. What problems are ailing you? The bad news distressed us. Her high fever worries the doctor.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.troubler - someone who deliberately stirs up troubletroubler - someone who deliberately stirs up trouble
unwelcome person, persona non grata - a person who for some reason is not wanted or welcome
agitator, fomenter - one who agitates; a political troublemaker
disturber - a troubler who interrupts or interferes with peace and quiet; someone who causes disorder and commotion
badgerer, heckler - someone who tries to embarrass you with gibes and questions and objections
hellion, devil, heller - a rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man); "he chased the young hellions out of his yard"
hellhound - a very evil man
inciter, instigant, instigator, provoker, firebrand - someone who deliberately foments trouble; "she was the instigator of their quarrel"
blusterer, loudmouth - a person who causes trouble by speaking indiscreetly
cut-up, hoaxer, practical joker, prankster, tricker, trickster - someone who plays practical jokes on others
rioter - troublemaker who participates in a violent disturbance of the peace; someone who rises up against the constituted authority
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
'tooth for a tooth.' I am no troubler of countyhouses, and least of all do I like living on a plantation that the sheriff has surveyed; yet there is a reason in such a law, that makes it a safe rule to journey by, and therefore it ar' a solemn fact that this day shall I abide by it, and give unto all and each that which is his due and no more."
Il a, dans ce cadre, estime que "l'heure des comptes est arrivee et le temps d'assainir notre pays de toute personne malhonnete qui s'est laissee tentee de troubler la vie quotidienne du peuple algerien par de telles pratiques et de tout ce qui a obstrue les horizons face aux Algeriens et seme la peur, voire le desespoir en l'avenir".
Pour le quotidien officiel Global Times, [beaucoup moins que]la nouvelle equipe dirigeante a approfondi les reformes de facon exhaustive et formidable [beaucoup plus grand que] et la modification de la Constitution [beaucoup moins que]correspond a une nouvelle ere[beaucoup plus grand que] du socialisme chinois qui va aider le pays a ne point [beaucoup moins que]se laisser troubler par le monde exterieur[beaucoup plus grand que] car en Occident [beaucoup moins que]le systeme des valeurs s'effondre et la democratie est en pleine decomposition[beaucoup plus grand que].
En effet, conformement a la jurisprudence, la condition de ne pas troubler la paix concerne rait toute violation apprehendee d'un reglement municipal ou d'une loi provinciale ou federale (75).
Dans certaines provinces, les DSP-MH se sentent moins libres de parler parce qu'ils relevent de chefs de la direction et sont lies par des politiques de communication dont le but est de ne pas troubler le gouvernement, qui finance l'autorite sanitaire.
However, it clearly has a much longer history as a troubler of human sleep than just the late nineteenth century.