troubled

adjective

trou·​bled ˈtrə-bəld How to pronounce troubled (audio)
1
a
: concerned, worried
troubled feelings about the decision
b
: exhibiting emotional or behavioral problems
a program for troubled youth
2
: characterized by or indicative of trouble
our troubled cities
a gray and troubled sky

Examples of troubled in a Sentence

She seemed troubled about something. These have been troubled times.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Europe’s troubled luxury sector is showing signs of revival after an upbeat earnings season. Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025 More bluntly – and, journalistically, more truthfully, accurately, and appropriately – these are troubled times, chaotic times. Eli Amdur, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025 After a troubled week in La Liga, debates around refereeing will not fade away in Spain. Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025 And that’s the lesson his parents, especially his troubled dad, have to learn. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for troubled

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of troubled was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Troubled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troubled. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on troubled

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!