trouble
1 of 2noun
trou·ble ˈtrə-bəl 
plural troubles
1
: the quality or state of being troubled especially mentally
2
: public unrest or disturbance
there's trouble brewing downtown
3
: an instance of trouble
used to disguise her frustrations and despair by making light of her troubles 
Current Biography
Current Biography4
: a state or condition of distress, annoyance, or difficulty
in trouble with the law
heading for trouble
got into financial trouble
: such as a
: a condition of physical distress or ill health : ailment
back trouble
heart trouble
b
: a condition of mechanical malfunction
engine trouble
c
: a condition of doing something badly or only with great difficulty
has trouble reading
has trouble breathing
d
dated, informal : the state of being pregnant while unmarried
got a girl in trouble
5
: an effort made : pains
took the trouble to do it right
6
a
: a cause of distress, annoyance, or inconvenience
don't mean to be any trouble
what's the trouble?
b
: a negative feature : drawback
the trouble with you is you're too honest
the main trouble with electronic systems is the overreliance on them John Perham
John Perham c
: the unhappy or sad fact
the trouble is, I need the money
trouble
2 of 2verb
troubled; troubling ˈtrə-b(ə-)liŋ
transitive verb
1
a
: to agitate mentally or spiritually : worry, disturb
b
: to put to exertion or inconvenience
I'm sorry to trouble you
c(1)
: to produce physical disorder in : afflict
troubled by a cold
(2)
archaic : mistreat, oppress
2
: to put into confused motion
the wind troubled the sea
intransitive verb
1
: to become mentally agitated : worry
refused to trouble over trifles
2
: to make an effort : be at pains
did not trouble to come
troubler
ˈtrə-b(ə-)lər
noun 
Synonyms
Noun
- affection
- ail
- ailment
- bug
- complaint
- complication
- condition
- disease
- disorder
- distemper
- distemperature
- fever
- ill
- illness
- infirmity
- malady
- sickness
Verb
- bother
- fear
- fret
- fuss
- stew
- stress
- sweat
- worry
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The new system is giving me trouble. He was having trouble with his homework. I had a little trouble finding the place. He had no trouble finding a new job. gangs looking to make trouble When the new CEO arrived, the company was in trouble. She got into trouble with her credit cards. He's always getting in trouble at school. She has been having trouble with her knee. Verb The accusations troubled him deeply. I'm troubled by his strange behavior. I don't mean to trouble you, but I have a question. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Anthony Grafton, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 Several Sun starters were in foul trouble, but the Sky never took advantage, allowing the Sun to force them outside. Shakeia Taylor, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Politico got its eyes on one of the shopping lists, which is extremely detailed and suggests Russia is in serious trouble thanks to western sanctions. David Meyer, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2022 Yes, big box stores like Sears and J. Crew are in deep trouble, but, that said, the small businesses that survived the shutdown are often thriving now. Steve Strauss, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 Unless Richardson can pass for 300-plus yards, and run for around 100, too, then the Gators are in big trouble against one of the most talented teams in the country. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 Tax revenues had tumbled in Los Angeles, and the city’s budget was in deep trouble. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 The New York Times Former President Donald Trump's social media platform is in financial trouble, The Washington Post reported Saturday. Grayson Quay, The Week, 28 Aug. 2022 Using one lineman to block DeForest Buckner is asking for trouble. The Indianapolis Star, 26 Aug. 2022 Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2022 His revanchism may explain why Russia’s alteration of national boundaries by force doesn’t trouble him. William A. Galston, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 So sing to your kids, dance with them, but don't trouble yourself over exposing them to the best genre of music. Stephanie H. Murray, The Week, 28 June 2022 Sorry to trouble you with a fact Mr. Ramaswamy, but these asset managers have a fiduciary duty to maximize the long-term returns of their clients. Robert G. Eccles, Forbes, 5 July 2022 But Fritz does have a heavy serve and the kind of game that could trouble Nadal on grass. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 30 June 2022 Today, an advisory committee to the FDA recommended that our current slate of shots be updated to include a piece of an Omicron subvariant, with the aim of better tailoring the vaccine to the coronavirus variants that could trouble us this fall. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 June 2022 Certain aspects of Holmes’s character began to trouble him. New York Times, 6 July 2022 This ruling contradicts both common sense and the Constitution, and should deeply trouble us all. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2022 See More
Noun
The Gonzagas’ brilliant but imprudent expenditures had landed them in financial trouble. Anthony Grafton, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 Several Sun starters were in foul trouble, but the Sky never took advantage, allowing the Sun to force them outside. Shakeia Taylor, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Politico got its eyes on one of the shopping lists, which is extremely detailed and suggests Russia is in serious trouble thanks to western sanctions. David Meyer, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2022 Yes, big box stores like Sears and J. Crew are in deep trouble, but, that said, the small businesses that survived the shutdown are often thriving now. Steve Strauss, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 Unless Richardson can pass for 300-plus yards, and run for around 100, too, then the Gators are in big trouble against one of the most talented teams in the country. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 Tax revenues had tumbled in Los Angeles, and the city’s budget was in deep trouble. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 The New York Times Former President Donald Trump's social media platform is in financial trouble, The Washington Post reported Saturday. Grayson Quay, The Week, 28 Aug. 2022 Using one lineman to block DeForest Buckner is asking for trouble. The Indianapolis Star, 26 Aug. 2022 Verb
Henry Gao, associate professor of law at Singapore Management University, argues losses suffered by Tencent and Alibaba and their investors don't trouble China's leaders. Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2022 His revanchism may explain why Russia’s alteration of national boundaries by force doesn’t trouble him. William A. Galston, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 So sing to your kids, dance with them, but don't trouble yourself over exposing them to the best genre of music. Stephanie H. Murray, The Week, 28 June 2022 Sorry to trouble you with a fact Mr. Ramaswamy, but these asset managers have a fiduciary duty to maximize the long-term returns of their clients. Robert G. Eccles, Forbes, 5 July 2022 But Fritz does have a heavy serve and the kind of game that could trouble Nadal on grass. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 30 June 2022 Today, an advisory committee to the FDA recommended that our current slate of shots be updated to include a piece of an Omicron subvariant, with the aim of better tailoring the vaccine to the coronavirus variants that could trouble us this fall. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 June 2022 Certain aspects of Holmes’s character began to trouble him. New York Times, 6 July 2022 This ruling contradicts both common sense and the Constitution, and should deeply trouble us all. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French trubler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulare, from *turbulus agitated, alteration of Latin turbulentus — more at turbulent
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing trouble
Kids Definition
trouble 1 of 2
noun
trou·ble ˈtrə-bəl
1
: something that causes worry or distress : misfortune
I've suffered many troubles.
2
: an instance of distress or disturbance
Don't make trouble.
3
: extra work or effort
They took the trouble to write.
4
: ill health : ailment
"Your trouble comes from years of wearing the wrong kind of shoes," Jake lectured. Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game
Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game5
: failure to work normally
He had trouble with the engine.
trouble
2 of 2verb
troubled; troubling
1
: to become or make worried or upset
… reading this book will make you feel anxious, because you will be troubled by the disturbing suspense … Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator
Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator2
: to produce physical disorder in : afflict
He's troubled with weak knees.
3
: to put to inconvenience
Don't trouble yourself; I can do it.
4
: to make an effort
Do not trouble to write.
trouble 1 of 2
noun
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disease
- ailment
- illness
- ill
- disorder
- fever
- sickness
- condition
- complication
- bug
- infection
- attack
- ail
- malady
- plague
- complaint
- infirmity
- affection
- distemper
- distemperature
- contagious disease
- contagion
- bout
- unsoundness
- malaise
- weakness
- lameness
- matter
- feebleness
- spell
- fit
- unhealthiness
- sickliness
- debility
- decrepitude
- epidemic
- pestilence
- unwellness
- contagium
- pest
- pip
- frailness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- health
- wellness
- soundness
- robustness
- fitness
- shape
- wholeness
- healthiness
- heartiness
- wholesomeness
- fettle
2
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm that wild dog is trouble, so stay away Synonyms & Similar Words
- threat
- danger
- risk
- menace
- peril
- hazard
- pitfall
- imminence
- snare
- trap
- booby trap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- protection
- guard
- ward
- shield
- refuge
- retreat
- safeguard
- harbor
- shelter
- haven
- asylum
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- problem
- challenge
- matter
- issue
- case
- question
- predicament
- dilemma
- quandary
- hot water
- knot
- fix
- nut
- quagmire
- pickle
- conundrum
- jam
- glitch
- pitfall
- mystery
- mire
- puzzle
- riddle
- toughie
- corner
- snag
- crux
- hitch
- spot
- toughy
- sticky wicket
- puzzlement
- catch
- enigma
- hole
- catch-22
- poser
- stumper
- Gordian knot
- brainteaser
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- solution
- silver bullet
- answer
- magic bullet
- panacea
- cure-all
4
as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result please, don't go to all that trouble just for me Synonyms & Similar Words
- effort
- work
- pains
- exertion
- while
- sweat
- expenditure
- labor
- energy
- try
- toil
- might
- elbow grease
- power
- strain
- drudgery
- go
- attempt
- endeavor
- dint
- travail
- muscle
- slog
- pass
- trial
- grind
- stab
- whack
- force
- essay
- fling
- shot
- puissance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ease
- facility
- smoothness
- fluency
- inertia
- laziness
- inaction
- indolence
- inactivity
- idleness
- adroitness
- quiescence
- dormancy
- languor
5
as in danger
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- danger
- risk
- jeopardy
- peril
- distress
- endangerment
- harm's way
- threat
- imperilment
- vulnerability
- exposure
- susceptibility
- openness
- precariousness
- liability
- helplessness
- weakness
- susceptibleness
- defenselessness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- safety
- security
- salvation
- protection
- preservation
- defense
- secureness
- exemption
- immunity
- impunity
- safeness
- inviolability
- invulnerability
trouble
2 of 2verb
1
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety don't trouble about me—I'll be fine Synonyms & Similar Words
- worry
- fear
- stress
- fret
- bother
- fuss
- care a hang
- stew
- sweat
- sweat blood
- give a hang
- long
- despair
- agonize
- pine
- yearn
- chafe
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accept
- bear
- endure
- take
- tolerate
- sustain
- abide
- stick out
- stomach
2
as in to inconvenience
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? Synonyms & Similar Words
- inconvenience
- bother
- weigh
- upset
- disturb
- put out
- discommode
- get
- disoblige
- burden
- incommode
- annoy
- anger
- hinder
- aggravate
- provoke
- bug
- handicap
- vex
- impede
- exasperate
- irk
- saddle
- hamper
- hold back
- peeve
- tie up
- hobble
- obstruct
- chafe
- hamstring
- encumber
- grate
- pique
- shackle
- rile
- inhibit
- hold up
- gall
- agitate
- manacle
- fetter
- interfere (with)
- trammel
- nettle
- inflame
- perturb
- enflame
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aid
- help
- assist
- favor
- ease
- facilitate
- oblige
- accommodate
- smooth
- please
- delight
- satisfy
- comfort
- appease
- abet
- gratify
- disarm
- content
- placate
- pacify
- mollify
- conciliate
- console
- gladden