trouble

n.

1. Difficulty

   strain, stress, struggle; see difficulty 1, 2.

2. A person or thing causing trouble

   annoyance, difficult situation, bother, bind, hindrance, difficulty, task, puzzle, predicament, plight, problem, fear, worry, concern, inconvenience, nuisance, disturbance, calamity, catastrophe, crisis, negative function, delay, quarrel, dispute, affliction, intrusion, disquiet, irritation, trial, pain, pique, ordeal, discomfort, injury, adversity, hang-up, case, bore, gossip, problem child, pestiferous person, meddler, pest, tease, tiresome person, talkative person, inconsiderate person, intruder, troublemaker, fly in the ointment*, monkey wrench*, headache*, smart aleck*, buttinski*, brat*, handful*, holy terror*, bad news*, botheration*, peck of trouble*; see also care 2.

   Antonyms aid*, help*, comfort*. *

3. Illness

   malady, ailment, affliction; see disease.

4. Civil disorder

   riot, turmoil, strife; see disturbance 2.

5. A quarrel

   argument, feud, bickering; see dispute, fight 1.

in trouble

1. in a quandary, in difficulty, in a predicament, out on a limb, in chancery, unfortunate, having trouble, in hot water*, in dutch*, in for it*, in bad*, up the creek*, up a tree*, in the doghouse*, in a jam*; see also troubled 1, unfortunate 2.

2. with child, pregnant out of wedlock, expecting*, knocked up*; see pregnant 1.

trouble

v.

1. To disturb

   disconcert, annoy, irritate; see bother 3, disturb 2.

2. To take care

   be concerned with, make an effort, take pains; see bother 1.