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
Relevance
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
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Managing the genetic health of such a small population is essential for the species’ long-term viability, and the hair-collection method offers a noninvasive way to gather vital data without disturbing the wombats in their burrows.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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The killings shocked the community, as did Caneiro's trial, which laid out disturbing details of betrayal and violence within the family.—
Christine Sloan,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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After her husband took her pets out of the room, Bloor then faced the even more delicate task of safely removing herself from the bed without alarming the snake.—
Phil Boucher,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, critics say the controversy risks distracting from preparations for the Games and eroding public confidence in the organizing committee.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Picture frame backsplashes are outdated and visually distracting, tied to early 2000s.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One Florida resident reportedly hired a local mover without bothering to determine if the company was licensed, only to run into a boatload of trouble.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
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If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, a vibrant woman enters his father’s life, unsettling the fragile balance between father and son.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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While a complete withdrawal from the GNU may be unlikely, the resurgence of internal debate alone risks unsettling a government whose stability rests, in part, on the DA’s role as a moderating force.—
Sam Mkokeli,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The mood today was more tenuous, the industry crowd mulling in the lobby with cocktails, discussing the tail end of awards season and the controversy coming out of the Berlin Film Festival concerning politically cautious juror statements.—
Film Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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In addition, two related proposals would exempt records concerning the decision to designate groups as terrorist organizations from public disclosure.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While Larson is known for his friendly disposition, Proto said that no candidate can be in office for decades without upsetting some constituents.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2026
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Gaon Choi spoiled Chloe Kim’s bid for a halfpipe three-peat, upsetting the American in dramatic fashion to win gold.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead of worrying about ratings, the new late-night creators are directly beholden to their viewers.—
Joy Press,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
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But Joe Garcia, a Democratic former congressman from Miami, said that stance could backfire as Cuban Americans begin worrying about their relatives on the island.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhinging. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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