Any word to describe a trouble maker who is wanting attention so much?
- Thread starter karlalou
- Start date
A trouble maker who wants to be in the spotlight
In school: "class clown".
Old fashioned: "a cut-up".
Or try: "a joker".
Old fashioned: "a cut-up".
Or try: "a joker".
I can't think of a word that describes someone who both wants a lot of attention and causes trouble.
One word for someone who does things to get attention is show-off.
Someone who makes trouble may be a troublemaker, as Disturbance has suggested.
One word for someone who does things to get attention is show-off.
Someone who makes trouble may be a troublemaker, as Disturbance has suggested.
Rabble-rouser is a good suggestion if they make trouble by stirring up a large number of people.
I see that we need a clearer idea of what karlalou means by 'troublemaker'.
What do you have in mind, karlalou? What do these people do to cause trouble and attract attention?
I see that we need a clearer idea of what karlalou means by 'troublemaker'.
What do you have in mind, karlalou? What do these people do to cause trouble and attract attention?
What context/what kind of sentence do you want to use the expression in?
When a child is demanding attention and being disruptive we say they are 'throwing a tantrum' or 'having a paddy'.
We might call grown ups 'high maintenance' but only in certain contexts.
When a child is demanding attention and being disruptive we say they are 'throwing a tantrum' or 'having a paddy'.
We might call grown ups 'high maintenance' but only in certain contexts.
Thanks for responses, everyone.
I think it's rabble-rouser in a smaller scale, but rabble-rouser also seems good for what I'm looking for.
But more specifically, it's someone like a child trying to get his parents' or older sibling's attention by misbehaving and irritating them intentionally.
Oh, it's more like 'high maintenance' that I'm looking for. Someone pretending to be .. like still a cute and precious small kid. Thank you.
I think it's rabble-rouser in a smaller scale, but rabble-rouser also seems good for what I'm looking for.
But more specifically, it's someone like a child trying to get his parents' or older sibling's attention by misbehaving and irritating them intentionally.
Oh, it's more like 'high maintenance' that I'm looking for. Someone pretending to be .. like still a cute and precious small kid. Thank you.
Yes, on a smaller scale perhaps. Rabble rouser has the right tone but I don't think it works in literal terms. What are the rabble? They are the hoi polloi, the common people, the people on the street, the working class. A rabble rouser is someone who provokes them into rebellion, into riot. I don't think that is what you mean.
Red's right about the meaning and use of 'rabble-rouser' - it's more a political and social-activism term.
'Spoilt brat' might fit and can be effectively used for adults too, although it slightly lacks intentional aspect.
Grown-ups who need attention and make trouble for their own amusement can be called 'stirrers'. Rather like the real life version of on-line 'trolls'.
'Don't take any notice of him he's stirring us up'.
I associate 'high-maintenance' with relationships - a very demanding partner who needs great emotional investment. It might have other nuances elsewhere.
'Spoilt brat' might fit and can be effectively used for adults too, although it slightly lacks intentional aspect.
Grown-ups who need attention and make trouble for their own amusement can be called 'stirrers'. Rather like the real life version of on-line 'trolls'.
'Don't take any notice of him he's stirring us up'.
I associate 'high-maintenance' with relationships - a very demanding partner who needs great emotional investment. It might have other nuances elsewhere.
Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of attention seeking behavior and extreme "emotionality."
Someone with histrionic personality disorder wants to be the center of attention in any group of people, and feel uncomfortable when they are not.
Histrionic itself is defined as an adjective as "overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style."
As a noun, it means "exaggerated dramatic behavior designed to attract attention."
Hope that helps
Hellion. (Usually applied to children and young people.)
the definition of hellion
noun, Informal.
1.
a disorderly, troublesome, rowdy, or mischievous person.
the definition of hellion
noun, Informal.
1.
a disorderly, troublesome, rowdy, or mischievous person.
Smart-aleck comes to mind at last.