disturbed

[[t]dɪstɜ͟ː(r)bd[/t]]

1) ADJ-GRADED A disturbed person is very upset emotionally, and often needs special care or treatment.

...working with severely emotionally disturbed children...

The murderer was apparently mentally disturbed.

2) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ that, ADJ to-inf You can say that someone is disturbed when they are very worried or anxious.

Doctors were disturbed that less than 30 percent of the patients were women...

I was disturbed to hear that the selection committee originally decided not to send a British team to this year's Championships.

Syn:

troubled

3) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe a situation or period of time as disturbed, you mean that it is unhappy and full of problems.

...these disturbed times.

...women from disturbed backgrounds.

Syn:

troubled