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
Examples of disturbed in a Sentence
He seems very disturbed about his work lately.
Recent Examples on the Web
Many executives in the C-suite and across the economy remain disturbed about the trade war outlook and a White House that has given every indication it is ideologically committed to a major change in global economic policy.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
The four-episode series sees Cooper play a young, disturbed boy who’s online habits have turned deadly.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2025
Police checked the woman’s residence and nothing was disturbed and no foul play was indicated.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Schlieren The clever bit is that this image remains stable until the air around it is disturbed, like by lighting a candle or having an object flying by at supersonic speeds.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbed
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Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
The four-episode series sees Cooper play a young, disturbed boy who’s online habits have turned deadly.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2025
Police checked the woman’s residence and nothing was disturbed and no foul play was indicated.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Schlieren The clever bit is that this image remains stable until the air around it is disturbed, like by lighting a candle or having an object flying by at supersonic speeds.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disturbed
Cite this Entry
“Disturbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbed. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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