troubled

adjective

trou·​bled ˈtrə-bəld 

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

Synonyms

• aflutter
• antsy
• anxious
• atwitter
• dithery
• edgy
• goosey
• het up
• hinky [slang]
• hung up
• ill at ease
• insecure
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• nervy
• perturbed
• queasy
• queazy
• tense
• uneasy
• unquiet
• upset
• uptight
• worried

Examples of troubled in a Sentence

She seemed troubled about something.

These have been troubled times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Torn between chasing her dream and protecting her troubled brother, Suado must confront the price this unwarranted success has. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025

Listen to this article A correction officer at the troubled MDC Brooklyn federal jail showed up to work wearing a protective vest stuffed with pot, cigarettes and other contraband, federal prosecutors allege. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2025

The ambivalence of the troubled poet watching an armored column pass over fresh graves is illustrated by a later, lighter anecdote. —Robert Pinsky, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025

The big picture: Logistics facilities remain positive outliers within the troubled commercial real estate sector. —Dan Primack, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing troubled

• ease someone's (troubled) mind
• guilty/troubled conscience
• pour oil on troubled waters
• troubled waters