troublemakers
Stirrers of chaos
Troublemakers are people who cause problems, stir up conflict, or disrupt order.
The term often appears in contexts of authority—teachers identifying classroom troublemakers, managers flagging workplace troublemakers.
It can be dismissive, labeling legitimate dissenters as mere agitators: Civil rights activists were called troublemakers by those who opposed change.
Those who play jokes
- jokersClowns or wild cards
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
- impsMinor demons or rascals
- scampsPlayful troublemakers
rascals · rogues · scallywags · rapscallions · hooligans · hellions · tearaways · monkeys
Those who incite disturbance
- provocateursThose who incite discord
- incitersThose who urge action
- rabble-rousersThose inciting public disorder
- ringleadersChief organizers of wrongdoing
firebrands · demagogues · schemers · plotters · masterminds · catalysts · manipulators · conspirators
Underage individuals
- vandalsWillful property destroyers
- hoodlumsYoung criminal troublemakers
- ruffiansBrutal, lawless people
- thugsViolent criminals
gangsters · criminals · offenders · lawbreakers · culprits · miscreants · felons · trespassers
Political objectors
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- guerrillasIrregular combatants, unconventional warfare
- freedom fightersArmed opponents of oppression
resistance fighters · partisans · mutineers · insurrectionists · subversives · radicals · activists · protesters
Those who defy superiors
- malcontentsChronically dissatisfied people
- recalcitrantsObstinate resisters of authority
- contrariansHabitual position opposers
- upstartsPresumptuous newly successful people
hotheads · loose cannons · wildcards · disrupters · challengers · questioners · objectors · refusers
pranksters
Those who play jokes
- jokersClowns or wild cards
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
- impsMinor demons or rascals
scamps · rascals · rogues · scallywags · rapscallions · hooligans · hellions · tearaways · monkeys · devils
agitators
Those who incite disturbance
- provocateursThose who incite discord
- incitersThose who urge action
- rabble-rousersThose inciting public disorder
ringleaders · firebrands · demagogues · schemers · plotters · masterminds · catalysts · manipulators · conspirators · seditionists
juveniles
Underage individuals
- vandalsWillful property destroyers
- hoodlumsYoung criminal troublemakers
- ruffiansBrutal, lawless people
thugs · gangsters · criminals · offenders · lawbreakers · culprits · miscreants · felons · trespassers · shoplifters
dissidents
Political objectors
- revolutionariesThose seeking systemic overthrow
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- guerrillasIrregular combatants, unconventional warfare
freedom fighters · resistance fighters · partisans · mutineers · insurrectionists · subversives · radicals · activists · protesters · agitators
insubordinates
Those who defy superiors
- malcontentsChronically dissatisfied people
- recalcitrantsObstinate resisters of authority
- contrariansHabitual position opposers
upstarts · hotheads · loose cannons · wildcards · disrupters · challengers · questioners · objectors · refusers · resisters
- annoying peoplepest, hecklers, nuisance, meddlers, bore
- naughty listbad kids, liars, bullies, cheaters, spoiled brats
- troublemakersrascals, delinquents, imps, brats, lawbreakers
- Iconoclastsheretics, freethinkers, dissidents, mavericks, radicals
- back row seating targetslatecomers, couples, sleepers, observers, introverts
- student typesjocks, kindergartners, nerds, first graders, geeks
troublemakerspeacemakers
Those who resolve conflicts
peacekeepers · mediators · conciliators · harmonizers · diplomats
troublemakersconformists
Those obeying social norms
teacher's pets · goody-goodies · straight arrows · pillars of the community · do-gooders