misbehavers
Those acting up
Misbehavers are people who behave badly or break rules.
The word appears most often when speaking of children or students: The teacher kept the misbehavers after class.
It can apply to anyone acting improperly, though *those who misbehave* is more common than the noun form.
Minors who commit crimes
- vandalsWillful property destroyers
- shopliftersThose who steal merchandise
- truantsUnauthorized school skippers
- troublemakersThose causing problems deliberately
young offenders · petty criminals · hooligans · hoodlums · ruffians · ne'er-do-wells · miscreants · lawbreakers
Those who play jokes
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
- impsMinor demons or rascals
- rascalsMischievous troublemakers
- scampsPlayful troublemakers
rapscallions · troublemakers · jokers · class clowns · hellions · brats · urchins · scalawags
Those defying established customs
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
- mavericksUnorthodox, independent-minded people
- iconoclastsAttackers of cherished beliefs
- resistersThose who actively oppose
protesters · malcontents · rabble-rousers · troublemakers · insurgents · agitators · subversives · renegades
Defying rightful authority
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- recalcitrantStubbornly resistant to control
- noncompliantFailing to conform
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
obstinate · rebellious · contrary · willful · headstrong · oppositional · intractable · refractory
Noisily disorderly
- boisterousNoisily cheerful and energetic
- raucousLoud and disorderly
- riotousMarked by unrestrained disorder
- unrulyDifficult to control
disorderly · wild · undisciplined · chaotic · turbulent · obstreperous · unmanageable · uncontrollable
juvenile offenders
Minors who commit crimes
- vandalsWillful property destroyers
- shopliftersThose who steal merchandise
- truantsUnauthorized school skippers
troublemakers · young offenders · petty criminals · hooligans · hoodlums · ruffians · ne'er-do-wells · miscreants · lawbreakers · juvenile delinquents
pranksters
Those who play jokes
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
- impsMinor demons or rascals
- rascalsMischievous troublemakers
scamps · rapscallions · troublemakers · jokers · class clowns · hellions · brats · urchins · scalawags · schemers
nonconformists
Those defying established customs
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
- mavericksUnorthodox, independent-minded people
- iconoclastsAttackers of cherished beliefs
resisters · protesters · malcontents · rabble-rousers · troublemakers · insurgents · agitators · subversives · renegades · free spirits
insubordinate
Defying rightful authority
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- recalcitrantStubbornly resistant to control
- noncompliantFailing to conform
uncooperative · obstinate · rebellious · contrary · willful · headstrong · oppositional · intractable · refractory · stubborn
rowdy
Noisily disorderly
- boisterousNoisily cheerful and energetic
- raucousLoud and disorderly
- riotousMarked by unrestrained disorder
unruly · disorderly · wild · undisciplined · chaotic · turbulent · obstreperous · unmanageable · uncontrollable · loud
misbehaversconformists
Those obeying social norms
paragons · saints · angels · exemplars · goody-goodies