1
as in down
not being in working order
The website went haywire when it was overloaded with visitors seeking tickets.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mad
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
She gradually went haywire with grief after the tragic death of her husband.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in uncontrollably
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of haywire
Billy Perrigo, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
The Baltimore Orioles' season went haywire fast after a disappointing offseason that saw ace Corbin Burnes walk, and with no real replacement added to their pitching staff.
—Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haywire
Adverb
Robot meltdown — The LLMs also sometimes went haywire in unexpected ways.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
The Baltimore Orioles' season went haywire fast after a disappointing offseason that saw ace Corbin Burnes walk, and with no real replacement added to their pitching staff.
—Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haywire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haywire
Adjective
-
That down year is not necessarily an indication of Jefferson as a talent.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
The down alternative also keeps you supportive and cool all night long.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Also keep in mind that blasting noise through your AirPods or speakers may drown out some very important other sounds — like approaching wildlife or mad rattlesnakes.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
To go and do Nicolas Winding Refn film, or just the really fun, mad thing.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
Adverb
-
Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
-
Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
24 May 2026
-
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In that setting, every user will be screened for cardiac issues and a family history of psychosis, and guided through their trip by two professional facilitators who have a doctor on call—and even then, some users experience a psychotic break or profound dissociative episodes.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
-
The records indicate that Carradine had a history of anxiety, bipolar disorder, severe depression with psychotic features and prior suicide attempts.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
And when Andreeva hits one of her crazily creative shots and turns to Martínez for praise, she is met with a smile, and maybe some clapping.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
-
The scene used one of the film’s funniest visual gags, an apartment so crazily tilted that nobody inside it could stand up straight.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The foundation’s demise left a trail of broken trust throughout the region, particularly among survivors and families.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
-
Now, people have been crammed into around 40 percent of the space left to them — sheltering among broken buildings, rubble and mounting solid waste.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
That’s an insane thing to believe.—
Holly Gleason,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
And ultimately, the premise of the show is insane horror tropes are happening to boring, normal people.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Haywire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haywire. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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