troubled

1 of 2

adjective

trou·​bled ˈtrə-bəld How to pronounce troubled (audio)
Synonyms of troublednext
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

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Adjective

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Examples of troubled in a Sentence

Adjective She seemed troubled about something. These have been troubled times.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The engaging biopic tracks Davidson's troubled upbringing to finding a way as an adult to deal with his condition and discover needed confidence. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Watching myself in the insightful new doc Boorman and the Devil, about the troubled 1977 sequel to The Exorcist, was a very strange experience. — Britina Cheng, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Published in 1996, Purple America tells the story of a troubled son who returns home to care for his terminally ill mother. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 His latest portfolio moves involve two pharmaceutical companies, Eli Lilly and AbbVie, and a troubled artificial intelligence company, Situational Awareness. — Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for troubled

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of troubled was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing troubled

Rhymes for troubled

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Browse Nearby Words

trouble
troubled
troubledly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Troubled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troubled. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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