verstört

Verstört is a German adjective and the past participle of the verb verstören, meaning to disturb, upset, or perturb. The term describes a state of emotional disturbance or unsettledness, usually after a shocking or distressing event. In everyday language it is used to characterize people, moods, or appearances, as in “Sie sah verstört aus” or “Er ist verstört nach dem Unfall.”

Grammatically, verstört can function predicatively with the verb sein (Er ist verstört) and can also be used attributively when declined to agree with a noun (for example, in a sentence like “ein verstörter Mann” or “eine verstörte Person”). The related participle form verstörend is used to describe something that causes disturbance.

Versus verstört, the adjective verstörend is used for things that are disturbing in a more objective sense, such as “eine verstörende Nachricht” or “verstörende Bilder.” The verb verstören means to disturb or upset, and its noun form Verstörung can denote a mental disturbance, disruption, or confusion, depending on context.

Usage and nuance: verstört typically conveys a temporary emotional reaction or momentary disruption of composure. For longer-term or more clinical concepts of mental disturbance, terms from psychology or psychiatry (such as Verstörung in broader, non-technical usage) may be employed, though verstört remains common in everyday speech to describe a shaken state.

Origin: verstört is formed from the verb verstören, which combines the prefix ver- with stören (to disturb). The word has been part of standard German for centuries and remains widely used in both colloquial and literary contexts.