unhinge

verb

un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj 

unhinged; unhinging; unhinges

transitive verb

1

: to make unstable : unsettle, disrupt

unhinge the balance of world peace

pressure that would unhinge a less experienced person

2

: to remove from the hinges

unhinge a door

Synonyms

• disturb
• distract
• unsettle
• bother
• derange
• unbalance
• confuse
• frenzy
• upset
• annoy

Examples of unhinge in a Sentence

the endless harassment by the guards completely unhinged the prisoners of war

I was momentarily unhinged by the unexpected question.

Recent Examples on the Web

For those who never got sick of watching Dunder Mifflin’s few sane employees stare exasperatedly into the camera as one of its certifiable weirdos did something unhinged, there’s a good amount of that here, too. —Judy Berman, Time, 3 Sep. 2025

Howard has made all kinds of films in his illustrious career, but never one this unhinged, even campy. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025

Americans have noticed that Democratic leaders are increasingly unhinged. —Nicole Russell, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025

Democrats should stand for compassion and fairness, but not for an encompassing theory of systemic oppression that most Americans don’t recognize and rightly view as unhinged. —Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unhinge

• impinge
• infringe
• syringe
• binge
• cringe
• fringe
• hinge
• singe
• tinge
• twinge

Kids Definition

unhinge

verb

un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj 

1

: unsettle sense 2, disrupt

a mind unhinged by grief

2

: to remove (as a door) from the hinges