trouble 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrə-bəl How to pronounce trouble (audio)
Definition of troublenext
1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning hoping that the doctor will be able to accurately diagnose my trouble

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2
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm that wild dog is trouble, so stay away

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3
as in problem
something that requires thought and skill for resolution the police officers first broke up the fight and then asked what the trouble was

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4
as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result please, don't go to all that trouble just for me

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5
as in risk
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil if you think your brother might be in trouble, then let's go check up on him

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trouble

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety don't trouble about me—I'll be fine

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2
as in to bother
to cause discomfort to or trouble for I hate to trouble you, but would you mind moving for a minute so I can sweep under your chair?

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Example Sentences

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 trouble
Noun
This is where Katie Zacharia, who was fired last week, ran into trouble. — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026 The site lists fatigue, mood changes, hot flashes, sleep trouble, erectile dysfunction, weight gain and bone loss as possible side effects. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
And some Pac-12 teams emerging through the first half of the season could trouble the Broncos, such as Oregon State and Colorado State. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2026 Lucie’s talented-but-troubled student, Susan Yi, writes fiction that resembles an accusation about Lucie. — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trouble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trouble
  1. disease
  2. threat
  3. problem
  4. effort
  5. risk
  6. worry
  7. bother
  8. ailment
Noun
  • Depending on the species, that could mean breeding animals in captivity and releasing them, restoring habitat, managing disease, or controlling invasive species.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Beeswax, honey, and pollen each possess their own particular antimicrobial and chemical properties that, taken together, repel disease and encourage helpful fungi.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • In contrast to other Gulf monarchies, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar sees no threat in the Muslim Brotherhood, the political movement that spawned Hamas.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In other words, the biggest threats on the horizon might not be the Vatican or their local dioceses as much as time and money.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of threat
Noun
  • The judges cited admission policies that allowed private schools to reject students with behavioral problems, disabilities or poor academic performance.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Still, many challenging open questions must be answered before the Many Worlds interpretation can be accepted as our best explanation for the measurement problem.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of problem
Noun
  • The president talked up Jackson and Senate candidate Mike Collins as part of the White House effort to boost GOP enthusiasm in the upcoming elections.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of effort
Noun
  • The wide availability of low-cost, powerful open models is one reason Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that open models in particular pose a risk of widespread and potentially devastating cyber attacks.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That could represent either a benefit or a risk for shareholders, as decision-making would become faster but have fewer checks.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of risk
Verb
  • And experts now worry about their potential to reach the Great Lakes.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That worries Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator at McGill University’s Office for Science and Society in Montreal.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of worry
Verb
  • Gee, who used to pop into fraternity parties unannounced to keep tabs on them, said he is not bothered by the reintegration of the three formerly rogue organizations.
    — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This is a dense picture—there’s almost too much to unpack, if you can be bothered to care about any of it.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • Now, with Garrett still dealing with a knee ailment in his own right, the Rams have been banged up with key players not just being down for a week or two, but prolonged recoveries.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The lack of clarity on the root of his ailments complicated the balancing act on both sides.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of ailment

Browse Nearby Words

troubadours
trouble
troubled
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Cite this Entry

“Trouble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trouble. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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