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

a gray and troubled sky

Synonyms

• aflutter
• antsy
• anxious
• atwitter
• dithery
• edgy
• goosey
• het up
• hinky [slang]
• hung up
• ill at ease
• insecure
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• nervy
• perturbed
• queasy
• queazy
• tense
• uneasy
• unquiet
• upset
• uptight
• worried

Examples of troubled in a Sentence

She seemed troubled about something.

These have been troubled times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Proposals for Combating Polarization and Extremism By Larry Diamond, Edward B. Foley, and Richard H. Pildes The Primary Solution: Rescuing Our Democracy From the Fringes By Nick Troiano Two new books explore the deeply troubled election system in the United States. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Meanwhile, some at City Hall have heard rumblings about major cuts to the planning department, which processes development applications and updates zoning plans, as well as the troubled Animal Services Department. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025

Where is the troubled, multiethnic Southeast Asian state, once known as Burma, headed now? —Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2025

Facing $9 billion in debt, the troubled power company effectively filed for bankruptcy in summer 2017. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025

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