disturbed
adjective
dis·turbed di-ˈstərbd 
1
: experiencing or exhibiting emotional disturbance or agitation : having a mental disability or illness
… the San Francisco police department, for example, handles 18,000 calls involving emotionally disturbed citizens every year. 
Newsweek
Newsweek2
a
: characterized or affected by interference, alteration, or disruption
restoration of disturbed habitats
disturbed sleep
b
: departing or deviating from a normal condition : marked by impairment
disturbed glucose metabolism
a disturbed gait
Example Sentences
He seems very disturbed about his work lately.
Recent Examples on the Web Richard Box noticed the hushed unease of it all, too, and unlike my disturbed dad and unnerved reporters, Box was in a solid position to do something about it as then-A&M regents chairman. Brent Zwerneman, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Aug. 2022 While the Joker has always been one of the DC Universe's more disturbed characters, Phillips's adaption of the origin storyline was especially so. Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Aug. 2022 Law enforcement was subsequently able to obtain an order to recover the disturbed man’s guns and prevent him from purchasing a new firearm for at least a year. Shannon Frattaroli, WSJ, 20 June 2022 And forecasters are still monitoring an area of disturbed weather in the Eastern Caribbean that has a 10 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next several days. Roger Simmons, Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2022 Robertz said another common thread among shooters is the connection between a disturbed adolescence and escapes into a fantasy world. Tim Meko, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 Robertz said another common thread among shooters is the connection between a disturbed adolescence and escapes into a fantasy world. Ariana Eunjung Cha, Meghan Hoyer And Tim Meko, Anchorage Daily News, 3 June 2022 The disturbed area of storms is near the Yucatan Peninsula and in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 2 June 2022 The area of disturbed weather, which is draping storms across nearly the entirety of the Caribbean Sea that lies west of Jamaica, has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center. Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 1 June 2022 See More
Brent Zwerneman, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Aug. 2022 While the Joker has always been one of the DC Universe's more disturbed characters, Phillips's adaption of the origin storyline was especially so. Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Aug. 2022 Law enforcement was subsequently able to obtain an order to recover the disturbed man’s guns and prevent him from purchasing a new firearm for at least a year. Shannon Frattaroli, WSJ, 20 June 2022 And forecasters are still monitoring an area of disturbed weather in the Eastern Caribbean that has a 10 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next several days. Roger Simmons, Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2022 Robertz said another common thread among shooters is the connection between a disturbed adolescence and escapes into a fantasy world. Tim Meko, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 Robertz said another common thread among shooters is the connection between a disturbed adolescence and escapes into a fantasy world. Ariana Eunjung Cha, Meghan Hoyer And Tim Meko, Anchorage Daily News, 3 June 2022 The disturbed area of storms is near the Yucatan Peninsula and in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 2 June 2022 The area of disturbed weather, which is draping storms across nearly the entirety of the Caribbean Sea that lies west of Jamaica, has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression in the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center. Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 1 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1593, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Kids Definition
disturbed
adjective
dis·turbed
di-ˈstərbd
: showing signs of mental or emotional illness
He works with emotionally disturbed patients.
Medical Definition
disturbed
adjective
dis·turbed dis-ˈtərbd
1
: experiencing or exhibiting emotional disturbance or agitation : having a mental disability or illness
Emotionally disturbed students over a long period of time and to a marked degree exhibit such characteristics as a general pervasive mood of depression, a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems or an inability to learn. Rodney Tanaka, San Gabriel Valley (California) Tribune
Rodney Tanaka, San Gabriel Valley (California) Tribune2
a
: characterized or affected by alteration or disruption
disturbed sleep
b
: departing or deviating from a normal condition : marked by impairment
disturbed glucose metabolism
a disturbed gait
disturbed 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in perturbed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- perturbed
- troubled
- agitated
- distressed
- upset
- unsettled
- worried
- restless
- unrestful
- restive
- unquiet
- uneasy
- fidgety
- uptight
- anxious
- nervous
- jumpy
- jittery
- tense
- hung up
- dithery
- aflutter
- edgy
- nervy
- het up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quiet
- calm
- restful
- peaceful
- easy
- tranquil
- relaxing
2
as in paranoid
Synonyms & Similar Words
- paranoid
- disordered
- neurotic
- schizophrenic
- touched
- schizoid
- aberrant
- delusional
- deranged
- delirious
- sociopathic
- paranoiac
- unhinged
- psychotic
- demented
- crazed
- unbalanced
- eccentric
- paranoic
- psycho
- mad
- cracked
- strange
- tetched
- loopy
- delusionary
- paranoidal
- maniac
- fey
- haywire
- wacko
- lunatic
- obsessive-compulsive
- mental
- maniacal
- oddball
- dotty
- bonkers
- screwy
- moonstruck
- bedlam
- distraught
- odd
- daft
- loony
- nutty
- irrational
- unreasonable
- insane
- foolish
- cuckoo
- whacko
- depressed
- bats
- off
- pixilated
- pixillated
- crackbrained
- nuts
- batty
- whacky
- brainsick
- scatty
- wacky
- daffy
- cranky
- crackpot
- gaga
- unsound
- potty
- crackers
- kooky
- witless
- barmy
- distracted
- berserk
- teched
- certifiable
- bughouse
- loony tunes
- senseless
- crazy
- obsessed
- loco
- queer
- looney
- fixated
- wud
- meshugah
- nuclear
- frantic
- meshugge
- kookie
- hysterical
- looney tunes
- non compos mentis
- ballistic
- raving
- meshuga
- fruity
- balmy
- amok
- meshuggah
- ape
- hysteric
- frenzied
- bananas
- amuck
- monomaniac
- monomaniacal
- wigged-out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sane
- balanced
- sound
- clear
- reasonable
- normal
- compos mentis
- wise
- lucid
- rational
- sensible
- uncrazy
- healthy
- judicious
- well-adjusted
- unneurotic
disturbed
2 of 2verb
1
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy all that talk of war disturbed us Synonyms & Similar Words
- alarmed
- bothered
- distracted
- concerned
- worried
- agitated
- unsettled
- angered
- upset
- perturbed
- annoyed
- disquieted
- distressed
- haunted
- dismayed
- discomforted
- irritated
- plagued
- confused
- unhinged
- discomposed
- frazzled
- derailed
- embarrassed
- distempered
- flurried
- rattled
- exercised
- exasperated
- fussed
- aggravated
- ailed
- harassed
- vexed
- irked
- weirded out
- discouraged
- undid
- peeved
- riled
- nettled
- disconcerted
- harried
- flustered
- bugged
- freaked (out)
- pestered
- discomfited
- mortified
- piqued
- hagrode
- unnerved
- confounded
- bedeviled
- nonplussed
- alarumed
- fretted
- jarred
- chafed
- galled
- abashed
- got
- disheartened
- fazed
- put off
- grated
- discountenanced
- dispirited
- put out
- demoralized
- daunted
- chivvied
- chivied
- nonplused
- vext
- shook up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quieted
- calmed
- soothed
- settled
- composed
- tranquillized
- alleviated
- tranquilized
- pacified
- allayed
- mollified
- assuaged
- appeased
- placated
- propitiated
- conciliated
2
as in removed
to change the place or position of the items on her desk had been disturbed by someone Synonyms & Similar Words
- removed
- relocated
- shifted
- transferred
- moved
- dislocated
- transported
- displaced
- conveyed
- replaced
- transposed
- altered
- repositioned
- hauled
- carried
- budged
- transmitted
- bore
- superseded
- transplanted
- modified
- supplanted
- varied
- remodeled
- revised
- reworked
- carted
- drove
- remade
- toted
- lugged
- revamped
- made over
- refashioned
- redid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stabilized
- secured
- froze
- fixed
- anchored
- set
- rooted
- moored
- imbedded
- embedded
- entrenched
- lodged
- implanted
- ingrained
- engrained
- intrenched
3
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of her careful filing system is sure to be disturbed during the move Synonyms & Similar Words
- disrupted
- confused
- upset
- shuffled
- disarranged
- disordered
- disorganized
- deranged
- disheveled
- jumbled
- discomposed
- muddled
- disjointed
- dislocated
- scrambled
- disarrayed
- tousled
- mussed
- dishevelled
- perturbed
- unsettled
- rumpled
- snarled
- tangled
- tumbled
- hashed
- agitated
- cluttered
- embroiled
- entangled
- mixed (up)
- messed (up)
- stirred (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disposed
- organized
- regulated
- arranged
- ordered
- aligned
- tidied
- adjusted
- classified
- ranged
- straightened (up)
- arrayed
- fixed
- marshalled
- marshaled
- lined up
- queued
- alined
- systematized
- lined
- drew up
- codified
- made up
- groomed
- methodized
- systemized
- spruced (up)
- unscrambled
4
as in bothered
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation sorry to disturb you while you're working Synonyms & Similar Words
- bothered
- worried
- annoyed
- harassed
- troubled
- bugged
- tormented
- provoked
- pestered
- irritated
- angered
- vexed
- exasperated
- aggravated
- chivvied
- irked
- chivied
- inconvenienced
- perturbed
- agitated
- invaded
- intruded (upon)
- distressed
- peeved
- enraged
- infuriated
- riled
- nettled
- outraged
- afflicted
- plagued
- gnawed
- bedeviled
- persecuted
- incensed
- hassled
- fretted
- piqued
- beset
- rankled
- roiled
- antagonized
- besieged
- maddened
- dogged
- galled
- chafed
- rasped
- inflamed
- got
- beleaguered
- grated
- encroached
- put out
- trespassed
- dunned
- deviled
- infringed
- vext
- enflamed
- obtruded
- devilled
- butted in
- cut in (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignored
- disregarded
- left
- satisfied
- slighted
- obliged
- disarmed
- delighted
- appeased
- gratified
- forgot
- pleased
- mollified
- comforted
- placated
- contented
- gladdened
- consoled
- conciliated
5
as in troubled
to cause discomfort to or trouble for please do not disturb yourself—I'll get my own drink Synonyms & Similar Words
- troubled
- bothered
- inconvenienced
- upset
- weighed
- annoyed
- incommoded
- angered
- discommoded
- put out
- disobliged
- provoked
- perturbed
- vexed
- impeded
- hindered
- inhibited
- hampered
- burdened
- aggravated
- irked
- obstructed
- exasperated
- agitated
- handicapped
- peeved
- encumbered
- riled
- nettled
- bugged
- fettered
- tied up
- piqued
- hamstrung
- inflamed
- shackled
- saddled
- hobbled
- held back
- galled
- chafed
- manacled
- trammelled
- trammeled
- got
- held up
- grated
- enflamed
- vext
- interfered (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obliged
- favored
- aided
- assisted
- satisfied
- helped
- accommodated
- facilitated
- delighted
- gratified
- pleased
- abetted
- smoothed
- disarmed
- comforted
- pacified
- contented
- eased
- mollified
- appeased
- placated
- gladdened
- consoled
- conciliated