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troubled

adjective

trou·​bled ˈtrə-bəld How to pronounce troubled (audio)
Synonyms of troublednext
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
troubled times
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.
And that in turn, could stem the recent pressure in bitcoin that’s troubled financial markets this month. Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025 The four-part docuseries covers everything from the rap mogul’s troubled childhood to the tragedies that shaped his career. Vivian Kwarm, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025 Experts doub it, warning of the outcomes that an armed conflict would have in one of the most troubled economies in the world. Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025 One of its two young sibling protagonists, Amber (Bianca Belle), channels her feelings about the recent death of her mother into drawings of creatures born out of her troubled imagination, some of whom enact violence against the classmate who annoys her. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Troubled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troubled. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.

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