as in psychotic
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
destined to become one of the nation's most notorious serial killers, he apparently became unhinged as a result of being abandoned as a young teen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disturbed
to cause to go insane or as if insane
the endless harassment by the guards completely unhinged the prisoners of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
I was momentarily unhinged by the unexpected question
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unhinged
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
From thrillers with missing kids and an unhinged nanny to a movie about a nuclear attack, streaming services are doing their darndest to rattle your nerves.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson headline this unhinged British musical, in which Merlin the Magician (Starr, who also produced) tries to convince Nilsson's reluctant immortal to assume the family throne.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unhinged
Adjective
The series, which follows the unhinged misadventures of charity workers dedicated to making people happy, is currently airing its third season, and in a sign of confidence from its network, was already renewed for two additional seasons in 2024.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
From thrillers with missing kids and an unhinged nanny to a movie about a nuclear attack, streaming services are doing their darndest to rattle your nerves.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Intensely creepy and increasingly unhinged, Alejandro Amenábar’s supernatural chiller owes much to Kidman’s unwavering commitment as a distressed, shotgun-wielding mother trying to protect her children from the hauntings plaguing their remote country house in ’40s Jersey.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson headline this unhinged British musical, in which Merlin the Magician (Starr, who also produced) tries to convince Nilsson's reluctant immortal to assume the family throne.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unhinged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhinged
Adjective
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Whitford hopes his team’s EEG test could eventually be used to assess someone’s risk of developing psychotic symptoms and hallucinations.—
Hannah Seo,
Scientific American,
10 Nov. 2025
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So Psykotic was supposed to be psychotic, obviously.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The whales' communication can be disturbed by underwater noise made by humans, and the interference often deters them from certain crucial areas, like breeding and feeding locations.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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For instance, Bella's first meeting with Edward in their biology class is supposed to be this unnerving moment, where Bella is disturbed by Edward's apparent repulsion toward her.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The nearly 4,300-member tribe has long been alarmed at the state of its life-giving waterway, CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores wrote in a statement shared with The Arizona Republic.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Sexton called for the review after hearing from owners alarmed by the rapid rise in assessed values.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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His votes, like his tattoos, just weren’t insane enough anymore.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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His voice messages of songs are amazing and insane.—
Kristin Robinson,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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TikTok brims with both clever and crazed conspiracy theories.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
8 Oct. 2025
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Phoenix’s crazed, killer Batman villain is back, and he’s now joined by Lady Gaga as the equally insane Harley Quinn.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Over the years, California Highway Patrol officers have told Honk their priority is saving lives — so intoxicated and distracted drivers, speeders and those not wearing seat belts get top billing.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
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Moreover, 14% of more than 1,000 respondents said at least one accident had occurred at their workplace because an employee was distracted by a smartphone—often resulting in injury or damage to property.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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Elizabeth is the budding mad doctor’s fiancee, who’s dismembered under the blades of a rogue lawnmower in the opening scene of the film.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Many of those viewers have strong opinions and allegiances and are deranged.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Most people don’t commit violent acts, but in the hands of someone who’s fired up and mentally deranged, anything can happen.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unhinged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhinged. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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