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
-
Then jurors heard disturbing sounds of banging — and choking, according to the Star-Telegram.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
And inside the actual pillow, there are only those air sacs, which inflate and deflate to slightly change pressure points throughout the night – silently and without disturbing your slumber, or anyone else's.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Perhaps his most notable friendship is with loyal longtime bodyguard Bill Bray (Keilyn Durrel Jones) and, to a lesser extent, his savvy manager John Branca (Miles Teller in a distracting wig).—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
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Punk was taking off the tape from his hands and threw it onto the ring, distracting the referee enough to hit Reigns with a low blow.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sit there like nothing is bothering you.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Eisenberg’s compositional intelligence has a near-merciless quality, zeroing in on feelings of calm and unsettling them.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
That is why the recent decision to advance legislation (House Bill 1360, the Affordable Housing Financing Fund) to divert approximately $130 million from Proposition 123 funds is so concerning.—
Heidi Williams,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Palencia’s oblique strain was the latest in a series of pitching injuries the Cubs have had to deal with, and was especially concerning considering the shaky state of the bullpen with the losses of high-leverage options Hunter Harvey and Phil Maton.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Congressional leaders, wired to protect their own and afraid of upsetting their narrow margins, are famous for shrouding ethics investigations in secrecy and dragging them out for years.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
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Cade realized the players were sweating out electrolytes — another word for minerals like sodium, potassium and magnesium — and upsetting the body’s chemical balance.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhinging. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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