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 of unhinge

• 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

Unfortunately, neighbor Sandy (Kelsey Pribilski) is unhinged and has some opinions about Sarah’s potential changes to the property, and things get dark quickly. — William Earl, Variety, 23 June 2026

Others’ unhinged ignorance can be fun. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026

Woodall knew that dramatically there had to be variety in the way loud sounds continually unhinge Niki. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026

Why Jalapeño Sauvignon Blanc Works Jalapeños in wine may sound unhinged, but Sauvignon Blanc is probably the white wine best built for the experiment. — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026

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