1
as in malfunctioning
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 amuck
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haywire
Adjective
-
Another set piece involving a malfunctioning chair lift is excruciatingly tense.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Awards are both mad and lovely.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Sep. 2025
-
And of course, mad love and respect to Adam Yauch, Oscilloscope’s co-founder, filmmaker and Beastie Boy forever.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Her blonde hair was also styled in a down hairdo with a hint of texture that gave a cool, effortless look.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In timber stands, larger dead and down material continues to burn and produce smoke.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Brown's attorneys had said Brown could at times appear psychotic.—
Kevin Grasha,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Psychologists and psychiatrists are scrambling to better understand how use of chatbots can fuel delusions and drive psychotic episodes.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Bone Cancer Bone cancer develops when abnormal cells multiply and grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor in the bone.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Following Reed's death, rumors spread online that he had been found with a range of injuries such as broken limbs that could indicate an assault.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The intensive care doctor who treated the boy told detectives the child arrived at the hospital in cardiac arrest, with a traumatic brain injury, including bleeding on the brain, bleeding of the eyes and a broken left leg, the report states.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Malik Heath’s insane toe-tap grab on the sideline, which was reversed after video replay review, was a massive 37-yard swing for the Packers during the drive.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
None of their other work, arguably, has had the seismic impact or inspires the same insane quotability as This Is Spinal Tap.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
That seems like a crazily low number of songs.—
Carson Blackwelder,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Guessing crazily at the future, the gambler is granted, briefly, the gift of now.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Haywire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haywire. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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