haywire 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhā-ˌwī(-ə)r How to pronounce haywire (audio)
Definition of haywirenext
1
as in down
not being in working order The website went haywire when it was overloaded with visitors seeking tickets.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mad
unable to think in a clear or sensible way She gradually went haywire with grief after the tragic death of her husband.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

haywire

2 of 2

adverb

as in uncontrollably

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of haywire
Adverb
Robot meltdown — The LLMs also sometimes went haywire in unexpected ways. — Billy Perrigo, Time, 28 Oct. 2025 The Baltimore Orioles' season went haywire fast after a disappointing offseason that saw ace Corbin Burnes walk, and with no real replacement added to their pitching staff. — Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haywire
  1. down
  2. mad
  3. uncontrollably
  4. malfunctioning
  5. psychotic
  6. crazily
  7. broken
  8. insane
Adjective
  • If Rice and new running back Kenneth Walker can serve as the team’s early down answers that keep defenses honest, that should open up opportunity for Mahomes to finally see some open looks downfield again.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • While last year was a down year compared to the year before, Ovechkin still appeared in all 82 games and potted 64 points, with 32 goals and 32 assists.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of down
Adjective
  • Getting mad about missing out on signing Anfernee Simons won’t change that.
    — Nick Friedell, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • When World Cup season descends upon soccer-mad Brazil, green and yellow banners decorate restaurants, bars and apartment buildings, streets are painted with flags and soccer balls, and discussions of the beloved national team's games are ubiquitous.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of mad
Adverb
  • Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
  • Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of uncontrollably
Adjective
  • The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.
    — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 24 May 2026
  • Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
Definition of malfunctioning
Adjective
  • Those diagnoses included schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, major depressive disorder, and bipolar or related disorders.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • The defense argued that Bland had a psychotic episode due to a COVID infection.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Definition of psychotic
Adverb
  • And when Andreeva hits one of her crazily creative shots and turns to Martínez for praise, she is met with a smile, and maybe some clapping.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 June 2026
  • The scene used one of the film’s funniest visual gags, an apartment so crazily tilted that nobody inside it could stand up straight.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Definition of crazily
Adjective
  • Bowser, who declined to be interviewed for this article, urged the administration to clean up federal parks and fix broken fountains, while pushing back on measures like having police ask for people’s immigration status.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
  • Stopped wearing your favorite pumps because of a broken heel?
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
Definition of broken
Adjective
  • England’s 2-1 victory against Mexico — and that insane Azteca Stadium crowd — also was richly deserved.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Allowing Trump to declare insane levels of tariffs would have been really bad for the economy and bad for Republicans.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
Definition of insane

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hayseed
haywire
hazard
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Cite this Entry

“Haywire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haywire. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of haywire for Spanish Speakers

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