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
In the box, there is an old diary of his mentally disturbed brother and a list: with their names and the dates of their deaths.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
That disturbed design historians, who said the pieces were most meaningful in context.
—Fred A. Bernstein, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Such is the deeply disturbed state of the left: part Alice-in-Wonderland on steroids, part mind-bending intellectual dishonesty.
—Jeff Robbins, Orange County Register, 14 Mar. 2024
On February 25, a mentally disturbed man self-immolated in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.
—Becket Adams, National Review, 3 Mar. 2024
Several bodycam videos show police officers ending foot chases and taking down emotionally disturbed gunmen after shots rang out by wrapping them in wires from a distance.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024
When our circadian rhythm is disturbed, our sleep is impacted.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024
In 2021, state lawmakers got rid of permitting requirements for Class I wetlands, the lowest quality wetlands, which are in relatively disturbed areas.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2024
The first photo from the Peregrine lander showed a disturbed section of insulation, likely caused by a propulsion failure.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024
John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
That disturbed design historians, who said the pieces were most meaningful in context.
—Fred A. Bernstein, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Such is the deeply disturbed state of the left: part Alice-in-Wonderland on steroids, part mind-bending intellectual dishonesty.
—Jeff Robbins, Orange County Register, 14 Mar. 2024
On February 25, a mentally disturbed man self-immolated in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.
—Becket Adams, National Review, 3 Mar. 2024
Several bodycam videos show police officers ending foot chases and taking down emotionally disturbed gunmen after shots rang out by wrapping them in wires from a distance.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024
When our circadian rhythm is disturbed, our sleep is impacted.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024
In 2021, state lawmakers got rid of permitting requirements for Class I wetlands, the lowest quality wetlands, which are in relatively disturbed areas.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2024
The first photo from the Peregrine lander showed a disturbed section of insulation, likely caused by a propulsion failure.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disturbed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near disturbed
Cite this Entry
“Disturbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disturbed. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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