troublesome
UK: ˈtrʌb(ə)ls(ə)m | US: ˈtrʌbəlsəm
adj. causing difficulty or annoyance
adj. characterized by or prone to problems
troublesome = trouble<distress> + some<adjective suffix indicating tendency>
- trouble: From Old French trouble (disturbance), derived from Latin turbidus (muddy, confused).
- some: An Old English suffix -sum, meaning "tending to" or "characterized by," akin to German -sam.
Etymology Origin:
The word troublesome emerged in Middle English (14th century) by combining trouble (denoting distress) with the suffix -some, which imparts a qualitative tendency. The logic mirrors Germanic adjective formations (e.g., quarrelsome), where the suffix amplifies the root’s inherent trait. Over time, it evolved to describe anything persistently annoying or problematic.
The software update proved troublesome for older devices.
His troublesome behavior disrupted the entire class.
Removing the stain was a troublesome task.
The negotiations became increasingly troublesome.
She avoided the troublesome topic during the meeting.