troubles

Noun

trouble (countable and uncountable, plural troubles)

1. A distressing or dangerous situation.
   • He was in trouble when the rain started.

   Synonyms:

   ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cauldron, cross, cross to bear, difficulty, dilemma, dire straits

2. A difficulty, problem, condition, or action contributing to such a situation.
   • The trouble was a leaking brake line.
3. A person liable to place others or themselves in such a situation.
   • Get me on the court and I'm trouble
     Last week, messed around and got a triple double1992, Ice Cube, “It Was A Good Day”, in The Predator
4. The state of being troubled, disturbed, or distressed mentally; unease, disquiet.
   • Yet oft when sundown skirts the moor
     ⁠An inner trouble I behold,
     ⁠A spectral doubt which makes me cold,
     That I shall be thy mate no more, […]1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XL”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 63

   Synonyms:

   anguish, torment, rend, difficulty, distress, grief, hardship, pain, smart, torture

5. Objectionable feature of something or someone; problem, drawback, weakness, failing, or shortcoming.
   • Your trouble is that you quit too readily.

   Synonyms:

   pain in the neck, defect, fault, flaw, blot, imperfection, shortcoming, drawback, deficiency, inadequacy

6. Violent or turbulent occurrence or event; unrest, disturbance.
   • the troubles in Northern Ireland

   Synonyms:

   palaver, turmoil, ado, argy-bargy, bangarang, bobbery, brouhaha, bunfight, bustle, bust-up

See all 20 meanings of trouble