misbehaver
One acting out
A misbehaver is someone who behaves badly or breaks rules.
The word is mild and often applies to children: The misbehavers were sent to the principal's office.
It can describe anyone acting improperly, though "troublemaker" or stronger terms are more common in adult contexts.
Minor mischief-making devil
- rascalLovable troublemaker
- scampMischievous young person
- pranksterSomeone who plays tricks
- mischief-makerOne who causes trouble
rapscallion · scallywag · trickster · joker · troublemaker · pest · nuisance · hellion
Rejects prevailing social standards
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
iconoclast · dissident · mutineer · insubordinate · unruly · disobedient · resistor · insurgent
Young person or animal
- offenderOne who breaks rules
- lawbreakerOne who commits crimes
- culpritPerson found guilty
- transgressorOne who violates rules
wrongdoer · miscreant · malefactor · reprobate · scofflaw · truant · delinquency · wayward
One who provokes action
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- hotheadImpetuous, easily angered person
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
inciter · heckler · antagonist · stirrer · pot-stirrer · rabble-rouser · malcontent · disturber
imp
Minor mischief-making devil
mischief-maker · rapscallion · scallywag · trickster · joker · troublemaker · pest · nuisance · hellion · terror
nonconformist
Rejects prevailing social standards
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
- defiantOpenly resisting control
contrarian · iconoclast · dissident · mutineer · insubordinate · unruly · disobedient · resistor · insurgent · renegade
juvenile
Young person or animal
- offenderOne who breaks rules
- lawbreakerOne who commits crimes
- culpritPerson found guilty
transgressor · wrongdoer · miscreant · malefactor · reprobate · scofflaw · truant · delinquency · wayward · unruly
instigator
One who provokes action
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- hotheadImpetuous, easily angered person
firebrand · inciter · heckler · antagonist · stirrer · pot-stirrer · rabble-rouser · malcontent · disturber · troublemaker
misbehavergood boy
Praise for obedient pet
good girl · conformist · straight arrow · goody-goody · teacher's pet
misbehaversaint
Canonized holy person
role model · good egg · pillar of the community · mensch · angel
misbehave, misbehavior, misbehaving, misbehaved, misbehaves, misbehavers