as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
we could tell by the troubled looks on their faces that the news was not promising
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in feared
to experience concern or anxiety
don't trouble about me—I'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disturbed
to cause discomfort to or trouble for
I hate to trouble you, but would you mind moving for a minute so I can sweep under your chair?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of troubled
ABC News, 17 May 2026
Karma follows Cotillard as a woman with a troubled past whose new life is upended by a child’s disappearance.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Labor historian James Green noted that of all the violence against workers at the time, none shocked the nation or troubled its collective conscience more than the Ludlow massacre because of the deaths of children.
—Robert Forrant, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for troubled
Adjective
The cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak has docked at the Dutch port of Rotterdam for disinfection, wrapping up a troubled journey that put international health authorities on alert.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Karma follows Cotillard as a woman with a troubled past whose new life is upended by a child’s disappearance.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Verb
We also are deeply troubled by the cancellation of the $11 million grant to Catholic Charities of Miami, which played a very important part with the resettlement of Syrian and Afghan refugees in Miami and elsewhere.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Labor historian James Green noted that of all the violence against workers at the time, none shocked the nation or troubled its collective conscience more than the Ludlow massacre because of the deaths of children.
—Robert Forrant, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for troubled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for troubled
Adjective
-
Reformers were worried that putting more money into the hands of local school districts, without oversight to ensure that it was being spent effectively, would lead to its diversion into administration and more generous union contracts rather than hands-on instruction for kids who needed it most.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Yu said that, as China has strengthened its social safety net, people are less worried about having to rely on others.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Verb
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She has also been disturbed by the increase in what looks to her like a lack of trust in science, as seen in falling vaccination rates and rising instances of diseases like measles.—
Deepti Hajela,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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When to Plant Watermelon Seeds Most seed catalogs recommend direct sowing watermelon seeds into gardens or pots because watermelons don’t like to have their roots disturbed.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s a lot of anxious energy surrounding a screening of a 55-year-old film that hasn’t been hard to see — in one form or another — in recent times.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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Now, the Tiki Social at the Omni may be driving another escape, from our anxious times to the fantasy island life.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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YouGov’s fine print notes that their survey was done online among nearly 3,000 adults, and explicitly weighed factors like age, race and education.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
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The Steelers had reportedly expected Rodgers' decision at various points since the 2025 season ended, but Rodgers weighed his future in silence.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
If the Cavaliers pull the Game 7 upset, Game 1 will play out at Madison Square Garden.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
Away to a Newcastle team that has won just one of their last six league matches and has little to play for at this stage of a disappointing season, there could be an opportunity for West Ham to cause an upset.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Shuter is not bothered by such pesky details.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
12 May 2026
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One thing that bothered me in my career as a stylist was the cliché that the inspiration of the show is a certain period, and the designer did not see certain races in the casting.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Altman seemed slightly nervous as the cross-examination got underway.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
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Suddenly, and very publicly, Russian officials appeared nervous, afraid that their parade would be spoiled.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Someone needs to tell them to stay on the East Coast — at least, until the precedent set by last week’s action in the Gulf provides the basis for a similar rule along the East Coast, particularly in New England where the whales’ modest protections have inconvenienced commercial fishing boats.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
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If a magazine story produced a burst of negative attention that inconvenienced or endangered the people who worked for her, that would fall on her, too.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Troubled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/troubled. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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