as in psychotic
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
destined to become one of the nation's most notorious serial killers, he apparently became unhinged as a result of being abandoned as a young teen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disturbed
to cause to go insane or as if insane
the endless harassment by the guards completely unhinged the prisoners of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
I was momentarily unhinged by the unexpected question
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unhinged
Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
Gyllenhaal’s empowerment story, meanwhile, feels like an unhinged scream.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
These are the exact type of tried-and-true New Yorkers and New York hip-hop heads the Bodega Boys blew up by parodying with their frequently unhinged back-and-forth.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhinged
Adjective
But in many ways, her melodramatic behavior is akin to that of a teenager (albeit a very unhinged one).
—Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
Gyllenhaal’s empowerment story, meanwhile, feels like an unhinged scream.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
Hudson is unhinged and chaotic and hilarious, and Connor is so caring.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
These are the exact type of tried-and-true New Yorkers and New York hip-hop heads the Bodega Boys blew up by parodying with their frequently unhinged back-and-forth.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhinged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhinged
Adjective
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Slovak adds a chicken-scratch guitar that sounds like Nile Rodgers stuck in a psychotic loop.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
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In schizophrenia, one type of psychotic disorder, exercise is believed to be neuroprotective, tamping down inflammation in the brain and spurring the release of chemicals that support and maintain brain cell growth.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The hornets are extremely aggressive when the nest is disturbed.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
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Danita Hoskin, president of the Crown Hill Neighborhood Association, said that she was disturbed to learn recently that her neighborhood's life expectancy is more than 15 years shorter than for those who live north of 38th Street, according to the Polis Center at Indiana University Indianapolis.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
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The message alarmed those who read it and reported it to police, cops said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Stewie’s miserable, the other kids are miserable, and even the turtle is miserable… until Stewie begins rolling out his trusty array of devices to take them anywhere in space and time, turning every boring day at school into an insane and surreal adventure.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
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But Sean Penn was so out there and insane.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The recent release of the collection in Chanel stores even crazed a fashion frenzy in Paris as devote accessory lovers fought to ge their hands on a pair of Blazy’s high-vamp creations.—
Morgan Evans,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
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Did someone repaint the mechanical horses for children one too many times and now their eyes look crazed?—
Xuan Juliana Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If the vehicle detects that the driver is distracted or sleeping when the program is on, the vehicle will come to a complete stop and call emergency services.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Teachers distracted children with songs As the attack unfolded, staff members and teachers at the temple’s pre-K scrambled for safety.—
Nouran Salahieh,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Local bookstores were, at the time, folding en masse, and people were mad about the growing predominance of chain retail.—
Henry Grabar,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
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Even conservatives are mad, writes columnist Anita Chabria.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This series is the gripping tale of Paul’s real-time investigation into four murders related to Joe Naso, pitting one of America’s best detectives against one of its most prolific and deranged serial killers.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
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It’d be deranged not to bring back Storrie and Williams as the leads—so of course their return has been confirmed.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhinged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhinged. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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