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’s about in-line with the Street estimate of 37% but represents another down tick from 38% in the reported quarter.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The three-piece set comes with a down-alternative comforter and two pillow shams made of 95 GSM polyester for a lightweight, breathable fabric that keeps moisture at bay—perfect for all-season use.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The far right just became very mad at me.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But people are mad, and resolute.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle begins to slide uncontrollably on wet roads.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There's also the scenario where the user experience just isn't great, whether that's subpar customer service or a malfunctioning app.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Over 1,000 sanitation workers went on strike after two workers were crushed by a malfunctioning garbage truck — a tragic incident in a history of city neglect of Black workers.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But providers might not have enough information available to make a correct diagnosis; an emergency room doctor treating someone experiencing a psychotic episode likely doesn’t have the capacity to know if their diagnosis should be schizophrenia, bipolar I or something else.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Is this lucid state only temporary based on the recent anti-psychotic meds he was given by Kelson?—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Granted, by the time the Jet Skis are swinging crazily in the air, Nathan has only been onboard for a few hours.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
7 Oct. 2025
-
That seems like a crazily low number of songs.—
Carson Blackwelder,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Customers are also digging through the drawers for scrap gold and unwanted or broken jewelry.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Is this a buying opportunity or a broken narrative?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And there’s Harrison Ford, which is insane.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But that’s an indictment of our insane world, not Roher’s filmmaking.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Haywire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haywire. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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