# troubling

/ˈtɹəbəɫɪŋ/ (US) · /tɹˈʌblɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/troubling
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. worrying or distressing

adjective · CEFR B2

causing you to feel worried or concerned.

For teachers: causing distress, anxiety, or concern; often used to describe news, trends, or evidence that suggests a problem.

- The doctor found some troubling signs in the blood test results.
- The report highlighted several troubling discrepancies in the company's financial records that suggested potential fraud.

Usage: Commonly modifies nouns like 'news', 'trend', 'signs', or 'development'.

### 2. causing worry or pain

verb · CEFR B2

the act of bothering someone or causing them physical pain.

For teachers: the present participle of 'trouble', used to describe the ongoing act of causing distress, discomfort, or physical ailment.

- My old knee injury has been troubling me again since the weather turned cold.
- The ethical implications of the new policy were clearly troubling the board members during the long afternoon session.

### 3. the act of causing distress

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of causing trouble or worry to someone.

For teachers: the gerundial noun referring to the infliction of distress or the process of causing difficulty.

- He apologised for the troubling of his neighbours during the late-night move.
- The systematic troubling of the local population by the occupying forces led to a formal complaint at the international tribunal.

Usage: Usually functions as a gerund followed by 'of'.

## Examples

- The doctor found some troubling symptoms during the checkup.
- The recent increase in local crime rates is a troubling development for the neighborhood.
- The report highlighted several troubling inconsistencies in the witness's testimony, leading the jury to question the overall credibility of the prosecution's case.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.