disturbed

1 of 2

adjective

dis·​turbed di-ˈstərbd 

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

2

a

: 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

disturbed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of disturb

Examples of disturbed in a Sentence

Adjective

He seems very disturbed about his work lately.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The woman was said to be mentally ill and emotionally disturbed. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Instead, a not-elderly man a few rows away—perhaps even more disturbed by the tale of Phyllis’s downfall than I—became convulsed in a seizure. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

The fact that Salazar killed Clinkunbroomer was not in dispute, but his defense attorney and family said he was deeply disturbed at the time, hearing voices that told him to kill himself. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Police officials stressed the woman appears emotionally disturbed and the incident is not terror-related. — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for disturbed

• undisturbed
• unperturbed
• curbed
• perturbed

Kids Definition

disturbed

adjective

dis·​turbed

dis-ˈtərbd

: showing signs of mental or emotional illness

Medical Definition

disturbed

adjective

dis·​turbed dis-ˈtərbd 

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

2

a

: 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