disturbed

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Suffering from mental or emotional problems, sometimes showing unusual or worrying behavior.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: a disturbed child; he seemed deeply disturbed.

   Patterns

   • emotionally disturbed
   • mentally disturbed

   The counselor worked with emotionally disturbed teenagers.

   The man seemed deeply disturbed and spoke to no one.

   A disturbed mind may react strongly to small events.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Worried, shocked or upset by something that has happened.

   Grammar: Often followed by by or at: disturbed by the news.

   Patterns

   • disturbed by something
   • disturbed at something
   • disturbed to hear that

   Parents were disturbed by the report of bullying.

   I was disturbed to hear how badly he was treated.

   She looked disturbed after reading the letter.

3. 3adjectivecomparable

   Interrupted, moved or no longer calm or settled.

   Grammar: Used before a noun, often about sleep, soil or water: a disturbed night.

   Patterns

   • a disturbed night
   • disturbed sleep
   • disturbed ground

   After a disturbed night, she felt exhausted.

   Archaeologists found disturbed soil near the wall.

   The disturbed water slowly became still again.

Word forms

Common combinations

deeply disturbed

He was deeply disturbed by the images.

mentally disturbed

The report described the man as mentally disturbed.

disturbed sleep

Noise caused weeks of disturbed sleep.

disturbed by

She was disturbed by his sudden anger.

disturbed ground

The detectives examined the disturbed ground.

Synonyms and how they differ

troubled

Troubled is gentler and fits people or periods of life, while disturbed can suggest a more serious mental state.

upset

Upset is the everyday word for feeling unhappy, while disturbed suggests shock or deeper unease.

alarmed

Alarmed means frightened by sudden danger, whereas disturbed can be a quieter, lasting worry.

unsettled

Unsettled means uneasy or not calm, and is milder than disturbed.

Opposites

Word family

disturb verb

to interrupt, upset or move something from its calm state

disturbance noun

an interruption, or a noisy public disorder

disturbing adjective

causing worry or shock

disturbingly adverb

in a way that causes unease

undisturbed adjective

left calm and uninterrupted

Commonly confused: disturbed or disturbing?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “disturbed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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