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

troubled times

a gray and troubled sky

Synonyms of troubled

• worried
• anxious
• upset
• nervous
• uneasy

Examples of troubled in a Sentence

She seemed troubled about something.

These have been troubled times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shot over 20 days in Utah and additional five in California, earned strong reviews centered on a teenager who is sent away to a wilderness camp for troubled boys dealing with addiction. —Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026

The move is politically controversial due to Armenia’s troubled past with the two powers, but the opposition remained too fractured and scarred by association with past corruption to put up a considerable fight. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026

Beyond those posts, however, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution discovered a complicated and, at times, troubled history for both the clinic and its co-founder. —Carrie Teegardin, AJC.com, 8 June 2026

Often, the recruits came from troubled homes or were living in poverty. —Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

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