disturbed

adjective

dis·​turbed di-ˈstərbd 

1

: experiencing or exhibiting emotional disturbance or agitation : having a mental disability or illness

… the San Francisco police department, for example, handles 18,000 calls involving emotionally disturbed citizens every year.

—Newsweek

2

a

: characterized or affected by interference, alteration, or disruption

restoration of disturbed habitats

disturbed sleep

b

: departing or deviating from a normal condition : marked by impairment

disturbed glucose metabolism

a disturbed gait

Examples of disturbed in a Sentence

He seems very disturbed about his work lately.

Recent Examples on the Web

Police responded to two incidents in 2023 where the suspect was emotionally disturbed. —Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 18 Nov. 2024

The phenomenon has grown so popular of late that Yosemite officials say a growing number of visitors have destroyed natural vegetation and disturbed habitats while battling for parking and viewing spaces. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

In Taxi Driver, a campaign worker named Betsy (Cybill Shepherd) goes on a lunch date with disturbed Vietnam vet turned cabbie Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro). —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024

Creepy clowns, disturbed dolls, giant skeletons and sinister beings littered their yard — all to the delight of Chris. —Susan Young, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

disturbed

adjective

dis·​turbed

dis-ˈtərbd

: showing signs of mental or emotional illness

Medical Definition

disturbed

adjective

dis·​turbed dis-ˈtərbd 

1

: experiencing or exhibiting emotional disturbance or agitation : having a mental disability or illness

Emotionally disturbed students over a long period of time and to a marked degree exhibit such characteristics as a general pervasive mood of depression, a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems or an inability to learn.

—Rodney Tanaka, San Gabriel Valley (California) Tribune

2

a

: characterized or affected by alteration or disruption

disturbed sleep

b

: departing or deviating from a normal condition : marked by impairment

disturbed glucose metabolism

a disturbed gait