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

The Dutchman centers on Clay (Holland), a successful but troubled businessman who attends therapy sessions with wife Kaya (Beetz) but soon learns that the therapist follows unconventional methods. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025

The effects have rippled beyond the streets, into the aging criminal courthouse and the troubled jail. —Adrian Sainz The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Nov. 2025

At one point during a trance, Nancy walked through Vecna’s memories and learned his backstory as the troubled Henry Creel. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025

Set in the eerie streets of Victorian London, horror drama series Penny Dreadful features Green as Vanessa Ives, a troubled but powerful clairvoyant, working alongside Sir Malcolm, an explorer driven to find his missing daughter. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 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