TROUBLOUS Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

troublous

adjective

ˈtrə-b(ə-)ləs

Definition of troublous

as in disturbing

causing worry or anxiety a troublous teen whose antisocial antics had us all on edge

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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 troublous Then there were the ghoulish figures of revolutionary adventurers, the Mexican painter with two pistols in his belt, the men who were carving themselves careers out of these troublous times. — John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for troublous

Adjective

Brian had written down the recipe, and, in his back shed, Michael, with the eventual assistance of Kasey, sets about following it into strange and disturbing territory.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Artificial’s timeliness in that regard is striking, even disturbing.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Adjective

The heating oil situation is particularly troublesome here for low-to-moderate residents who rely on the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program to keep warm.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Some oil tankers have made their way through the strait, but LNG tankers are a more troublesome target, according to Robin Mills, a non-resident fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and CEO of Qamar Energy.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of troublesome

Adjective

The New York Yankees were still reeling from a nasty gut punch — a 1-0 loss to the rival Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on Saturday night.

— Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Frank Senior was a barber who dreamed of being a singer, a nasty cur who beat his two sons and verbally whittled them down to a nub.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

Josh, much of the social media conversation around people seeing The Odyssey in theaters was about the frightening Other Mommy trailer playing ahead of it.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
My Broken Brain follows three young survivors through the most frightening days of their lives and the grueling journey back to independence.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of frightening

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troubling

troublous

trough

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“Troublous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troublous. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of troublous

adjective

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