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.
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Adjective
Mamdani is trying to replace Tigani with Christopher Alexander, executive director of the NAACP who was the first head of New York state's troubled rollout of the legalization of marijuana. — Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Divorce and my parents’ own troubled upbringings made my childhood difficult. — Nickademus De La Rosa, Time, 28 Oct. 2026 Gang interventionists are credited with helping to reduce shootings in the most troubled neighborhoods, but one of the workers — Reginald ‘Big Ant’ Foreman — is among the victims of violence. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Bass has been forcing Raman to explain her own role in overseeing the city’s troubled homelessness response. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 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

See All Rhymes for troubled

Browse Nearby Words

trouble
troubled
troubledly
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Cite this Entry

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

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