troubled

troubled — adjective

1. describes a person, place, organization, or period of time that is experiencing

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a person, place, organization, or period of time that is experiencing many problems or difficulties.

Example

The troubled bank needed a government rescue after losing billions of dollars.

troubled + organization in crisis

Soraya tried to help her troubled brother, who had lost his job and his home.

troubled + person facing life difficulties

Common collocations
  • troubled company
  • troubled waters
  • troubled times
  • troubled region
  • troubled relationship
  • troubled industry
Synonyms
  • difficult

    broader term; 'difficult' can describe any hard situation, while 'troubled' specifically implies ongoing problems or unrest

  • problematic

    more formal; suggests something causes or involves problems rather than simply experiencing them

  • unstable

    focuses on lack of steadiness or predictability, often used for political or economic situations

Antonyms
  • stable

    describes a situation or organization that is steady and not experiencing serious problems

  • peaceful

    describes a place or time free from conflict or difficulty

Grammar Patterns

troubled + noun

be troubled by + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often modifies collective nouns (company, government, industry, region) and time periods (years, times, era). Commonly used attributively, placed directly before the noun it describes.

Common Mistakes

The meeting was troubled because people argued.
The meeting was difficult because people argued.
'troubled' describes deep or lasting problems, not a single difficult event.
The troubled country had many problems.
The troubled country faced rising unemployment and civil unrest.
avoid stating both 'troubled' and 'problems' redundantly; give specific context instead.

2. feeling worried, nervous, or anxious, especially because of a specific problem o

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

feeling worried, nervous, or anxious, especially because of a specific problem or uncertain situation.

Example

Tanvi looked troubled when she heard the news about her close friend.

troubled + appearance/expression

A troubled sleep left Noa feeling exhausted the next morning.

troubled + sleep/rest

Common collocations
  • troubled look
  • troubled expression
  • troubled sleep
  • troubled mind
  • troubled thoughts
  • deeply troubled
Synonyms
  • worried

    more common and slightly less formal; 'worried' is used for everyday concerns while 'troubled' suggests deeper unease

  • anxious

    emphasizes nervousness and unease about future events; more intense than 'troubled'

  • concerned

    more neutral and less emotional; suggests thoughtful care rather than distress

Antonyms
  • calm

    describes a state of peace and freedom from worry

  • relaxed

    describes a state of being free from tension or anxiety

Grammar Patterns

look/feel/seem troubled

be troubled by + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used as a predicative adjective after linking verbs like 'look', 'feel', 'seem', and 'appear'. Common in the pattern 'troubled by + [cause of worry]'. Unlike sense 1, this sense primarily describes a person's emotional state rather than a situation.

Common Mistakes

I am troubled about tomorrow's quiz.
I am worried about tomorrow's quiz.
'troubled' suggests a deeper, longer-lasting worry, not everyday test anxiety.
He looked troubled and started crying loudly.
He looked troubled and stared quietly out the window.
'troubled' usually describes quiet, reflective worry, not strong emotional outbursts.
Idioms

pour oil on troubled water(s)

idiom

To try to calm a disagreement or make a bad situation better.

Maya tried to pour oil on troubled waters after the heated debate.

Did Brian's apology pour oil on troubled waters between the two friends?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe situations that are not going well, but they differ in emphasis. 'Troubled' focuses on the presence of ongoing problems — a troubled company has multiple serious issues affecting it. 'Difficult' is the broadest term, covering any situation that requires extra effort or causes hardship. 'Problematic' is more formal and analytical, suggesting that something creates or involves problems rather than just experiencing them. 'Unstable' highlights a lack of steadiness and the risk of sudden change, especially in political or economic contexts. For example, a country can be both 'troubled' (facing many problems) and 'unstable' (at risk of collapse), but 'difficult' could describe anything from a hard test to a challenging conversation.

troubled ↗difficult ↗problematic ↗unstable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'troubled' comes from the past participle of the verb 'trouble', which entered English through Old French 'troubler' (to disturb, stir up), from Latin 'turbidare' (to make cloudy or confused), ultimately from 'turba' (crowd, disturbance, disorder). The sense of emotional worry developed alongside the sense of external difficulty, both already present by the 13th century.