unbalanced

1 of 2

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

unbalanced

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of unbalance entry 1

Synonyms of unbalanced

Adjective

• unstable

Examples of unbalanced in a Sentence

Adjective

He's been eating an unbalanced diet.

horrific crimes that obviously were committed by a very unbalanced person

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Studies show that, without shorebirds, coastlines erode more quickly, trap less carbon, and are more likely to become unbalanced. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

If they’re left in storage for too long, their flavor, aroma, and structure can fade or become unbalanced, even if the bottle has never been opened. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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