1
as in disturbing
to cause to go insane or as if insane
the endless harassment by the guards completely unhinged the prisoners of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarming
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
I was momentarily unhinged by the unexpected question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unhinging
Burmese pythons, which can engulf an entire Presidential golfing party simply by unhinging their (the pythons’) jaws, inhabit the environs of the Gulf of Mexico, and have even been seen swimming offshore.
—
Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhinging
Verb
-
Fitbits also feature silent alarms; the tracker will vibrate at a specific time and gently wake you up without disturbing others.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In March, as Sonko made his way to court to face the charges, he was arrested for disturbing public order after supporters rallied around him; his arrest sparked days of protests that resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Midway through my massage, the boat unmoored itself and set sail—setting off an initially alarming vibrating bed and whirring engine noise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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Recently, something new appeared on the landscape, alarming wildlife advocates like Christina Aiello.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For all their faults, looksmaxxers are intent on de-fetishizing this particular commodity, revealing beauty to be the product of strenuous (and often deranging) labor.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
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Gabriel going missing proves to be deranging to Caroline, and the novel becomes increasingly deranged with her.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Declutter the Exterior Clutter outside your home is just as distracting as clutter inside.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
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Not all Mauss’s material lends equally well to visualizations, and there are moments in the special when the animations are more distracting than additive.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Both players scored in double figures on Sunday, but Santos was ruled out against the Kings because of a pelvis injury that has been bothering him for weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Eisenberg’s compositional intelligence has a near-merciless quality, zeroing in on feelings of calm and unsettling them.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
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The ability of a single image to evoke feelings of hope and acceptance in some viewers while unsettling others is a fascinating reality of our culture and one Opie is unbothered by.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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More concerning, humanin was eventually linked to breast and brain cancers.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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That’s concerning, for sure, considering that Colorado’s 1,531 strikeouts last season were the most in the National League and the third-most in franchise history.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Your body works harder to digest sugary drinks, slowing fluid absorption and potentially upsetting an already sensitive stomach.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
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But after getting a chance to coach at Drake, McCollum began his quick rise up the college basketball ladder, going 31-4 in his first year at Drake and making it to the Round of 32 after upsetting Missouri in the opening round.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhinging. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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