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

The 84th annual Golden Globes Awards are months away, but the once boozy and sometimes unhinged ceremony is front and center right now, at least in the court dockets. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Suddenly Yesteryear became something darker, unpredictable, strange, and by the end, completely unhinged. — Roxane Gay, Time, 30 Sep. 2026

Then there is The Idiot(s), the Telluride-premiering, unhinged portrait of love about Fyodor Dostoevsky (Johnny Flynn) and his great love of the time, Anna (Aimee Lou Wood). — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

And a loss of faith in Fed independence could unhinge inflation expectations among investors and consumers. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 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