troublesome
gb/tɹˈʌbəlsəm/ us/tɹˈʌbəlsəm/
B2
English
~ 6100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
causing problems or difficulty
Causing problems and making something hard to do or deal with.
Usage pattern:
[something] is troublesome / troublesome [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *troublesome* when *troubled* is correct. *Troublesome* describes something that causes problems ("a troublesome rule"), while *troubled* describes someone who has problems or feels worried ("a troubled student"). Another confusion is with *difficult* or *annoying*: *troublesome* usually suggests repeated or ongoing problems, not just one moment of difficulty or irritation.
Synonyms
problematic (Often used in more formal or written contexts, especially for issues or policies that cause concern.)
|
difficult (More general and common; does not always suggest ongoing problems the way “troublesome” does.)
|
inconvenient (Focuses more on causing extra effort or minor bother rather than serious problems.)
Antonyms
straightforward (Suggests something is easy to do or understand, with no special problems.)
|
manageable (Emphasizes that something can be handled without much trouble.)
Collocations
troublesome issue
|troublesome question
|troublesome area
|prove troublesome
|particularly troublesome
|legally troublesome
Themes
daily life
|problems
|work
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- The new software update has a few troublesome bugs that need fixing.
- Parking can be troublesome in this part of the city.
- He raised a number of troublesome questions during the meeting.
- The most troublesome part of the project was getting the permits.
- These regulations are particularly troublesome for small businesses.
Learner examples
- This rule is troublesome for many people.
- The homework was long and troublesome for me.
- Parking is troublesome near my office.
- The last question on the test was very troublesome.
- These new forms are troublesome to fill out.
adjective
B2
property
2
behaving in a difficult way
Describes a person who often causes problems and is hard to control or manage.
Usage pattern:
troublesome [person/group]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *troublesome* with *in trouble*. *Troublesome* describes someone who causes problems for others, while *in trouble* describes someone who is being punished or has done something wrong. For example, "a troublesome child" often makes problems; "a child in trouble" is being punished or needs help.
Synonyms
difficult (Very common and general; does not specifically highlight repeated problem behavior as clearly as “troublesome” can.)
|
problematic (Sounds more formal or polite, especially in professional or official contexts.)
|
disruptive (Focuses on interrupting order or peace, especially in classrooms or meetings.)
Antonyms
well-behaved (Common for children; suggests following rules and not causing problems.)
|
easygoing (Describes a relaxed, calm person who is not hard to deal with.)
Collocations
troublesome child
|troublesome teenager
|troublesome employee
|troublesome neighbor
|troublesome behavior
|increasingly troublesome
Themes
daily life
|behavior
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Their son used to be a very troublesome child at school.
- The manager had to speak to a few troublesome employees about their attitude.
- The coach knows how to handle even the most troublesome players on the team.
- The landlord finally decided to evict the troublesome tenants.
- Teachers received training on working with troublesome students.
Learner examples
- He was a troublesome child in class.
- The teacher is kind to her troublesome students.
- Our dog was troublesome when he was young.
- The company had to fire a troublesome worker.
- The school called the parents of a troublesome boy.
adjective
C1
property
3
causing ongoing physical discomfort
Describes a part of the body or a health problem that often hurts or causes discomfort and is not easy to fix.
Usage pattern:
troublesome [body part/symptom]
Common mistake:
Learners may use only *hurt* or *painful* and miss the idea that *troublesome* suggests the problem comes back or is hard to control. *Troublesome* is not used for very short, one-time pain; it usually suggests an ongoing problem.
Synonyms
painful (Directly focuses on pain; does not always imply that the pain is long-lasting or hard to treat.)
|
nagging (Informal; suggests a constant, annoying level of pain or discomfort.)
|
persistent (Highlights that the symptom continues over time, but not always that it is hard to manage.)
Antonyms
manageable (Suggests that the pain or symptom can be controlled without much difficulty.)
|
mild (Indicates a low level of pain or discomfort, which is usually not very troublesome.)
Collocations
troublesome knee
|troublesome back
|troublesome symptoms
|chronic and troublesome
|particularly troublesome at night
|troublesome pain
Themes
health
|medicine
|daily life
|body
Examples
- He has a troublesome knee that often swells after running.
- These symptoms are troublesome but not life-threatening.
- Her back has been troublesome ever since the accident.
- The most troublesome side effect of the medicine was constant dizziness.
- Patients reported troublesome pain during the night.
Learner examples
- My knee is troublesome when I walk.
- She has a troublesome cough that will not go away.
- His back is troublesome after long work days.
- These headaches are troublesome for her at night.
- The doctor gave me pills for my troublesome pain.
Grammar
Dictionary form
troublesome
IPA
GB/tɹˈʌbəlsəm/
US/tɹˈʌbəlsəm/
Syllables & stress
trouble - some (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (trouble)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: troublesome
Word family
Core family
trouble
noun A2
troubling
adjective
Related words
troubled
adjective
troublemaker
noun
Negative and opposite forms
untroubled
adjective
Expressions
prove troublesome
1/pɹˈuv tɹˈʌbəlsəm/
fixed phrase
turn out to cause problems
To later become something that causes problems or difficulty, even if it did not seem that way at first.
Examples
- The new policy may prove troublesome for small businesses.
- What seemed like a simple repair job proved troublesome in the end.
- That comment could prove troublesome if the media picks it up.
troublesome child
1/tɹˈʌbəlsəm t͡ʃˈaɪld/
fixed phrase
a child who causes problems
A child who often behaves badly and causes problems for adults or other children.
Examples
- The teacher has to give extra attention to one very troublesome child in the class.
- Raising a troublesome child can be exhausting for parents.
- They asked a specialist for advice on how to deal with their troublesome child.
troublesome symptoms
1/tɹˈʌbəlsəm sˈɪmptəmz/
fixed phrase
symptoms causing ongoing problems
Health signs, like pain or cough, that cause a lot of problems or do not go away easily.
Examples
- If you notice any troublesome symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
- The medicine helped reduce her most troublesome symptoms.
- Patients reported fewer troublesome symptoms after the treatment.
troublesome teenager
1/tɹˈʌbəlsəm tˈinˌeɪd͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase
a teenager who causes problems
A teenager who often behaves badly, argues, or causes problems at home or at school.
Examples
- They struggled with their troublesome teenager during his high school years.
- The program is designed to support parents of troublesome teenagers.
- Teachers sometimes find it hard to stay patient with a troublesome teenager.