troubled
Full of worry
Troubled describes a state of distress, worry, or difficulty.
A troubled person is anxious or upset: She had a troubled look on her face.
Troubled waters are rough or agitated.
A troubled relationship has problems.
The word often softens harder realities—a troubled youth may be delinquent, a troubled company may be failing, a troubled region may be at war.
Troubled by uncertainty
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- distressedSuffering emotional turmoil
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
concerned · agitated · disturbed · perturbed · unsettled · distraught · fretful · apprehensive
Not operating properly
- maladjustedPoorly adapted socially
- disturbedEmotionally or mentally unsettled
- unbalancedLacking equilibrium or stability
- unstableProne to sudden change
impaired · affected · diagnosed · symptomatic · clinical · behavioral · developmental · psychological
Totally without arrangement
- tumultuousViolently agitated or disturbed
- strife-riddenBeset by ongoing conflict
- war-tornDamaged by military conflict
- conflict-riddenPlagued by disputes
unstable · volatile · anarchic · revolutionary · insurgent · rebellious · riotous · lawless
Causing difficulty or concern
- challengingHard to accomplish
- turbulentViolently agitated or disturbed
- stormyMarked by violent weather
- rockyCovered with stones
rough · hard · tough · complicated · fraught · vexed · thorny · messy
Destined to fail
- unluckyProne to misfortune
- cursedUnder a malevolent spell
- doomedDestined for destruction
- star-crossedDoomed by destiny
jinxed · hapless · luckless · blighted · afflicted · plagued · beset · stricken
Pulled into pieces
- uncertainNot firmly known
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- hesitantSlow to act
doubtful · wavering · questioning · struggling · wrestling · divided · confused · unsure
Filled with grief
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- dejectedLow in spirits
- despondentDeeply discouraged, hopeless
- forlornSad and abandoned
gloomy · downcast · heavy · grieving · mournful · heartbroken · crestfallen · woeful
worried
Troubled by uncertainty
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- distressedSuffering emotional turmoil
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
uneasy · concerned · agitated · disturbed · perturbed · unsettled · distraught · fretful · apprehensive · overwrought
dysfunctional
Not operating properly
- maladjustedPoorly adapted socially
- disturbedEmotionally or mentally unsettled
- unbalancedLacking equilibrium or stability
unstable · impaired · affected · diagnosed · symptomatic · clinical · behavioral · developmental · psychological · psychiatric
chaotic
Totally without arrangement
- tumultuousViolently agitated or disturbed
- strife-riddenBeset by ongoing conflict
- war-tornDamaged by military conflict
conflict-ridden · unstable · volatile · anarchic · revolutionary · insurgent · rebellious · riotous · lawless · unrest
problematic
Causing difficulty or concern
- challengingHard to accomplish
- turbulentViolently agitated or disturbed
- stormyMarked by violent weather
rocky · rough · hard · tough · complicated · fraught · vexed · thorny · messy · chaotic
ill-fated
Destined to fail
star-crossed · jinxed · hapless · luckless · blighted · afflicted · plagued · beset · stricken · disadvantaged
torn
Pulled into pieces
- uncertainNot firmly known
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
hesitant · doubtful · wavering · questioning · struggling · wrestling · divided · confused · unsure · second-guessing
sorrowful
Filled with grief
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- dejectedLow in spirits
- despondentDeeply discouraged, hopeless
forlorn · gloomy · downcast · heavy · grieving · mournful · heartbroken · crestfallen · woeful · disconsolate
- uneasyanxious, nervous, jittery, edgy, tense
- madnessmadness, lunacy, insanity, mania, schizophrenia
- inner turmoilinner turmoil, inner conflict, inner struggle, self-doubt, indecision
- burdenedburdened, laden, loaded, weighed down, overburdened
- fortunelucky, luck, fortune, fate, destiny
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
troubledcalm
Free from agitation
untroubled · peaceful · serene · tranquil · composed
troubledpeaceful
Free from disturbance
stable · trouble-free · untroubled · tranquil · calm
troubledpeaceful
Free from disturbance
restful · undisturbed · dreamless · sound · untroubled
- in troubleFacing difficulty or punishment
- get into troubleIncur negative consequences
- big troubleSevere difficulty or danger
- deep troubleSevere difficulty or danger
- double troubleTwo problems at once
- looking for troubleActively seeking conflict
trouble, troubles, troubling, troublesome, untroubled, troubleshooter, troublesomely, untroubling, troublingly