visibly troubled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "visibly troubled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is showing clear signs of distress or concern that are apparent to others. Example: "She walked into the room, visibly troubled by the news she had just received."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Normally when we see a warrior just coming out of battle he is frequently withdrawn and visibly troubled.

The New York Times

Celtics Coach Jim O'Brien was visibly troubled by the incident, and he did not want the game to continue.

The New York Times - Sports

Melissa Ferrera, 19, a waitress at the station cafe for the last three years, was visibly troubled by the incident and found herself wondering if Ms. Henderson had been among the so many anonymous faces she waited on.

The New York Times

By Andy Borowitz February 2, 2014 EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (The Borowitz Report) — A "visibly troubled" man was spotted today outside MetLife Stadium just hours before the kickoff of Super Bowl XLVIII.

The New Yorker

At the second hearing, the stern judge who had been doing a passable impression of Anne Robinson for much of the hearing appeared visibly troubled by Harris's emotional plea to be set free.She told the translator to tell Harris to "be calm", and asked if she would like a break in proceedings to compose herself.

The Guardian

Chrysler was, like General Motors, specially situated as a visibly troubled company in a traditionally important industry, suffering during a severe economic downturn.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He was visibly upset.

The New Yorker

God was not visibly upset.

The New Yorker

Visibly upset, Lisa runs off.

Wikipedia

"Give me a hug!" I walked over to the door, which he was visibly having trouble unlocking, and extended my arms for a hug, hoping to end this momentary lapse into awkwardness and take us back to friend mode.

Huffington Post

Visibly very upset.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "visibly troubled" to clearly indicate that someone's distress is outwardly apparent. This phrase is effective when you want to emphasize that the person's emotions are not hidden.

Common error

While "visibly troubled" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider stronger, more precise terms like "deeply concerned" or "gravely worried" for a more impactful effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "visibly troubled" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying an adjective. The adverb "visibly" intensifies the adjective "troubled", indicating that the state of being troubled is outwardly apparent. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "visibly troubled" is a grammatically sound and readily understood expression used to describe someone whose distress is outwardly apparent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While less common, it effectively conveys a clear image of a person's emotional state, predominantly in news and media contexts. Alternatives such as "obviously disturbed" or "plainly worried" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression. When writing, ensure the context warrants the emphasis on visible distress, and consider stronger alternatives for highly formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

visibly concerned

A direct synonym replacing only "troubled" with "concerned", making it one of the closest alternatives in meaning.

obviously disturbed

Replaces "troubled" with "disturbed" and "visibly" with "obviously", emphasizing the evident nature of the person's emotional state.

plainly worried

Substitutes "visibly troubled" with "plainly worried", highlighting the worry that is easily seen.

noticeably anxious

Replaces "visibly troubled" with "noticeably anxious", focusing on the anxiety that is apparent.

apparently distressed

Similar meaning, but uses "apparently" and "distressed" to suggest a clear showing of suffering.

markedly concerned

Changes "visibly troubled" to "markedly concerned", emphasizing the significant level of concern.

clearly perturbed

Replaces "visibly troubled" with "clearly perturbed", indicating a visible disturbance or agitation.

openly bothered

Changes "visibly troubled" to "openly bothered", highlighting that the person is not hiding their distress.

evidently uneasy

Substitutes "visibly troubled" with "evidently uneasy", focusing on a visible state of discomfort.

demonstrably upset

Similar to "visibly troubled", but uses "demonstrably" to imply that the person's upset state is being shown in an obvious way.

FAQs

How can I use "visibly troubled" in a sentence?

You can use "visibly troubled" to describe someone whose distress or concern is apparent. For example, "The CEO looked "visibly troubled" after the quarterly results were announced."

What are some alternatives to "visibly troubled"?

Some alternatives include "obviously disturbed", "plainly worried", or "noticeably anxious", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "visibly troubled" or "clearly troubled"?

Both "visibly troubled" and "clearly troubled" are acceptable. "Visibly troubled" emphasizes the outward appearance of distress, while "clearly troubled" emphasizes the ease with which the distress can be perceived. The choice depends on the specific context.

Can "visibly troubled" be used to describe inanimate objects or situations?

No, "visibly troubled" is typically used to describe people or animals, as it implies an emotional state that is outwardly expressed. It is not appropriate to describe inanimate objects or situations as "visibly troubled".