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 oldest boy described what happened as putting him on a troubled path. —Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026

There is enough potential that the site was chosen for the 2025 Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge, which featured graduate students from the University of Denver and the University of Colorado Boulder who were tasked with coming up with ideas for how to revive the troubled site. —John Aguilar, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026

Colin painted a picture of himself as a man working hard to keep his family together, struggling to connect with his troubled son. —Kat Greene, AJC.com, 2 Mar. 2026

The troubled Olive Park Village, off 9th and Olive streets, has faced concerns over alleged deteriorating and unsafe conditions for residents that burst into public consciousness late last year. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 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