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
Over the last few years, the NYPD has responded to four calls for an emotionally disturbed person involving Brunson showing signs of extreme mental illness, sources said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Where the ambulances once stood, remnants of vehicles protruded from disturbed ground.
—Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Next to disturbed earth are three Israeli military bulldozers and an excavator.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for disturbed
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Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Where the ambulances once stood, remnants of vehicles protruded from disturbed ground.
—Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Next to disturbed earth are three Israeli military bulldozers and an excavator.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for disturbed
Cite this Entry
“Disturbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbed. Accessed 23 Apr. 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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