disturbed

adjective

dis·turbed | \ di-ˈstərbd

Definition of disturbed

1 : experiencing or exhibiting emotional disturbance or agitation : having a mental disability or illness … the San Francisco police department, for example, handles 18,000 calls involving emotionally disturbed citizens every year. — Newsweek

2a : characterized or affected by interference, alteration, or disruption restoration of disturbed habitats disturbed sleep

b : departing or deviating from a normal condition : marked by impairment disturbed glucose metabolism a disturbed gait

Examples of disturbed in a Sentence

He seems very disturbed about his work lately.

Recent Examples on the Web And forecasters are still monitoring an area of disturbed weather in the Eastern Caribbean that has a 10 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next several days. — Roger Simmons, Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2022 Robertz said another common thread among shooters is the connection between a disturbed adolescence and escapes into a fantasy world. — Tim Meko, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 Robertz said another common thread among shooters is the connection between a disturbed adolescence and escapes into a fantasy world. — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Meghan Hoyer And Tim Meko, Anchorage Daily News, 3 June 2022 The disturbed area of storms is near the Yucatan Peninsula and in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico. — Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 2 June 2022 The area of disturbed weather, which is draping storms across nearly the entirety of the Caribbean Sea that lies west of Jamaica, has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center. — Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 1 June 2022 This has the attention of forecasters across South Florida, as this area of disturbed weather moves in that direction. — Jennifer Gray, CNN, 1 June 2022 In May 1988, Andrew was 20 and at home in Winnetka after a disturbed woman entered Winnetka’s Hubbard Woods Elementary School killing one child and wounding five others. — Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2022 The number is a term for a mentally disturbed person under Section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. — Beth Decarbo, WSJ, 12 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disturbed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near disturbed

disturbant

disturbed

disturbed area

Statistics for disturbed

Last Updated

12 Jul 2022

Cite this Entry

“Disturbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbed. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for disturbed

disturbed

adjective

dis·turbed | \ di-ˈstərbd \

Kids Definition of disturbed

: showing signs of mental or emotional illness He works with emotionally disturbed patients.

disturbed

adjective

dis·turbed | \ dis-ˈtərbd

Medical Definition of disturbed

1 : experiencing or exhibiting emotional disturbance or agitation : having a mental disability or illness Emotionally disturbed students over a long period of time and to a marked degree exhibit such characteristics as a general pervasive mood of depression, a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems or an inability to learn.— Rodney Tanaka, San Gabriel Valley (California) Tribune

2a : characterized or affected by alteration or disruption disturbed sleep

b : departing or deviating from a normal condition : marked by impairment disturbed glucose metabolism a disturbed gait