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
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
But her lover, the increasingly controlling and unhinged army corporal Don José, is gradually dimished to lurking in the shadows and hiding in crowds.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
Audiences got an ample serving of Forbidden Fruits during the movie’s SXSW world premiere on Monday, marking director Meredith Alloway‘s unhinged camp feature debut.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhinged
Adjective
Instead, their enjoyment has become ramped up to a level formerly reserved for unhinged, extremist fandoms, such as Trekkies and Beanie Baby collectors.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
But her lover, the increasingly controlling and unhinged army corporal Don José, is gradually dimished to lurking in the shadows and hiding in crowds.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
Schellekens shrieks—set to a hurricane of layered guitars and unhinged drumming.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
Audiences got an ample serving of Forbidden Fruits during the movie’s SXSW world premiere on Monday, marking director Meredith Alloway‘s unhinged camp feature debut.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhinged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhinged
Adjective
-
Philip Seymour Hoffman played him on Broadway as a near-psychotic, his philandering very much to blame for the fall of his elder son, Biff.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Less commonly, some people experience psychotic symptoms, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, paranoia, confusion or emotional distress.—
Hollis Karoly,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Courts also accord high deference to arbitration decisions and require extraordinary findings to vacate an arbitration award, meaning arbitration decisions are normally not disturbed or challenged.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Apr. 2026
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Peale was especially disturbed by Kennedy’s prospects.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That has alarmed free-speech advocates and triggered federal and state-filed antitrust lawsuits, including one that the Colorado Attorney General’s office signed on to.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Critics are alarmed by its presence at the White House, saying the group promotes extreme views and undermines public schools.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In an insane society, this is a project of years, not weeks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
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If jurors do decide that Fahim was insane at the time of the killings, he would likely be sent to a state hospital for mental health treatment.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The recent release of the collection in Chanel stores even crazed a fashion frenzy in Paris as devote accessory lovers fought to ge their hands on a pair of Blazy’s high-vamp creations.—
Morgan Evans,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
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Did someone repaint the mechanical horses for children one too many times and now their eyes look crazed?—
Xuan Juliana Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Buxton scored the first run on a wild pitch and scored another later when Austin Martin was picked off and got caught in a rundown, breaking from third while Detroit defenders were distracted.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
9 Apr. 2026
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The implication is that she got distracted and failed to notice the most important things.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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William Atherton’s Jerry Hathaway—the money-hungry mad king behind Project Crossbow—is unfortunately medium plausible.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
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Kimi and Margo go at each other at the picnic, and now Margo is mad at Mark.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Only sick, demented, or deranged people in the House or Senate could vote against THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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This series is the gripping tale of Paul’s real-time investigation into four murders related to Joe Naso, pitting one of America’s best detectives against one of its most prolific and deranged serial killers.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhinged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhinged. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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