unhinge

verb

un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj How to pronounce unhinge (audio)
unhinged; unhinging; unhinges
Synonyms of unhingenext

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is completely, utterly unhinged. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026 The cakes people bake using her tutorial have been delightfully unhinged. Deena Prichep, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026 The locus of energy in My Lover, the Rabbi is not plot but comical, unhinged prose and extensive, psychoanalytic character readings. Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026 Schellekens shrieks—set to a hurricane of layered guitars and unhinged drumming. Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unhinge

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhinge was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unhinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhinge. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

unhinge

verb
un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj How to pronounce unhinge (audio)
1
: unsettle sense 2, disrupt
a mind unhinged by grief
2
: to remove (as a door) from the hinges

More from Merriam-Webster on unhinge

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster