Troublesome

ˈtrʌblsəm

adjectivemedium📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Causing difficulty, annoyance, or problems.

ˈtrʌblsəm

adjectivenegativemedium
General

Causing difficulty or annoyance.

The troublesome leak in the roof caused significant damage to the house.

💡 Simply: Imagine something is giving you a really hard time, like a toy that won't work or a puzzle you can't solve. That's troublesome! It's like when things are a bit of a pain.

👶 For kids: Making things hard or annoying.

More Examples

2

He found the traffic jam particularly troublesome during his commute.

3

The project faced several troublesome delays.

How It's Used

Everyday Life

"The new software update proved to be troublesome, causing several errors."

Business

"A troublesome customer can disrupt the entire workflow of the office."

Education

"The troublesome child was always getting into fights at recess."

2

Full of or causing trouble, worry, or distress.

ˈtrʌblsəm

adjectivenegativemedium
General

Characterized by or causing trouble; full of trouble.

The troublesome times of the war affected many families.

💡 Simply: If a situation is troublesome, it means there are a lot of problems or worries involved. It's like a bumpy road with lots of potholes!

👶 For kids: Having lots of problems and worries.

More Examples

2

They faced a troublesome journey across the desert.

3

The troublesome nature of the disease made it hard to treat.

How It's Used

Literature

"The novel depicted a troublesome period in the protagonist's life."

Politics

"The political situation in the region remains troublesome."

History

"The 1930s were a troublesome decade for many countries."

Tip:Trouble + some = having a lot of trouble.

From Middle English *troublesome*, equivalent to trouble + -some. The suffix '-some' indicates a tendency or quality.

The word 'troublesome' has been used since the 16th century, appearing in various texts to describe things that cause difficulty or distress.

Memory tip

Think of a situation that gives you trouble – it’s troublesome!

Word Origin

LanguageMiddle English
Original meaning

"Causing or characterized by trouble."

troublesome problemtroublesome situationtroublesome childtroublesome behaviortroublesome issue

Common misspellings

troublesomtroubelsometroublesum

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written