unbalanced

adjective

un·​bal·​anced ˌən-ˈba-lən(t)st 

: not balanced: such as

a

: not in equilibrium

b

: mentally disordered

—not used technically

c

: not adjusted so as to make credits equal to debits

an unbalanced account

Synonyms of unbalanced

• unstable

Examples of unbalanced in a Sentence

He's been eating an unbalanced diet.

horrific crimes that obviously were committed by a very unbalanced person

Recent Examples on the Web

While the filmmakers should be commended for keeping the focus on Brockington and Prescott for most of the running time, the doc also feels somewhat unbalanced. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

Lamont inherited a state that had been struggling for decades with large pension liabilities, unbalanced budgets and multiple credit downgrades from the rating agencies on Wall Street. — Kevin McNabola, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026

The school board’s radical idiocy does not negate the state’s obligation to think about the longer haul — specifically, the structurally unbalanced budgets facing Chicago Public Schools as far as the eye can see. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

There were fires to put out; an unbalanced squad, unsettled players, grumpy fans, some truly dispiriting defeats. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unbalanced

• counterbalanced
• overbalanced
• balanced
• imbalanced

Kids Definition

unbalanced

adjective

un·​bal·​anced ˌən-ˈbal-ən(t)st 

1

: not in a state of balance

2

: not completely sane

3

: not adjusted so as to make credits equal to debits

an unbalanced account

Medical Definition

unbalanced

adjective

un·​bal·​anced ˌən-ˈbal-ən(t)st 

: mentally disordered : affected with mental illness

—not used technically