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

• worried
• upset
• anxious
• nervous
• uneasy

Examples of troubled in a Sentence

She seemed troubled about something.

These have been troubled times.

Recent Examples on the Web

The musical originally toured the United States for six months in 1976, a legendarily troubled production, retooled constantly, that has long since entered stage lore. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025

Randall-Pizarro’s lawyer, Margaret Olsen of the Legal Aid Society, wanted the judge to use that earlier test to get the 18-year-old committed in the hopes of sparing her a stay in the troubled city jail complex. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2025

Before, during and after Property tax values in 2025 were not based on either of the previous two troubled cycles, with the county assessor introducing a new formula based on 2022 values. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2025

It was said that the room contained a troubled spirit and that the parson was supposed to bless the space. —Meredith Kile, People.com, 7 Aug. 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

Rhymes for troubled

• bubbled
• doubled
• redoubled
• untroubled