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

Its irregularities, grooves, nicks, and pockmarks heightened, rather than disturbed, the tranquillity of the space. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026

Throughout the clip, Boyce looks disturbed and confused by the toy. — Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Neill plays Mark in director Andrzej Żuławski’s fearless study of madness, opposite the incredible Isabelle Adjani as his increasingly disturbed wife, Anna. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026

Months of the drip-drip-drip of warning signs about a perverse and violently disturbed man were not enough to convince Democratic leaders to go in a different direction in their primary. — Jennifer Bukowsky, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for disturbed

• undisturbed
• unperturbed
• curbed
• perturbed

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