troubled

1 of 2

adjective

trou·​bled ˈtrə-bəld 

1

a

: concerned, worried entry 1

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

troubled

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of trouble entry 2

Synonyms of troubled

Adjective

• worried
• anxious
• upset
• nervous
• uneasy

Examples of troubled in a Sentence

Adjective

She seemed troubled about something.

These have been troubled times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Their days are spent patiently and sometimes fruitlessly trying to assist sick, troubled, or otherwise struggling people, each of whom have built up the kinds of walls that make accepting that help difficult, if not impossible. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Yet there are still plenty of concerns expressed in private about whether China’s troubled economy will definitively benefit from the AI boom. — Rana Mitter, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026

Jason, Leo, and Piper are kids at the wilderness school, a camp for troubled kids. — Kavya Dhillon, Parents, 19 Sep. 2026

The reasons for the troubled funding landscape are varied and at times unclear, according to nearly two dozen fundraisers and organizers who spoke with the AP. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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