adj
deranged
dih-RAYNJD
Deranged (adj) means Mentally disturbed or behaving in a wild, irrational way. Example: “Witnesses described the attacker as deranged and shouting incoherently.”
adj
1
Mentally disturbed or behaving in a wild, irrational way.
"Though Bane's sing-song voice gives his pronouncements a funny lilt, he doesn't have any of the Joker's deranged wit, and Nolan isn't interested in undercutting his seriousness for the sake of a breezier entertainment."
— Scott Tobias, The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
"Witnesses described the attacker as deranged and shouting incoherently."
2
Not working properly; thrown into disorder.
"The old clock's deranged mechanism made it chime at random hours."
How to use deranged
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMentally unbalanced, or (less commonly) knocked out of proper working order.
When to use it
Strong, somewhat dated word for describing a person's mental state — often used dramatically rather than clinically.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more deranged
- Superlative
- most deranged
Fill the gap
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Witnesses described the attacker as _____ and shouting incoherently.
Etymology
From French derange, past participle of deranger, "to disturb the order of."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for deranged
See all rhymes for deranged →Frequently asked questions
What does “deranged” mean?
The word “deranged” means mentally disturbed or behaving in a wild, irrational way. In plain terms, mentally unbalanced, or (less commonly) knocked out of proper working order.
How do you pronounce “deranged”?
“Deranged” is pronounced dih-RAYNJD (/dɪˈɹeɪnd͡ʒd/ in IPA).
How do you use “deranged” in a sentence?
Here is “deranged” used in a sentence: “Witnesses described the attacker as deranged and shouting incoherently.”
What part of speech is “deranged”?
“Deranged” is an adjective.
Where does the word “deranged” come from?
The word “deranged” comes from French. From French derange, past participle of deranger, "to disturb the order of.".
How many meanings does “deranged” have?
“Deranged” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: mentally disturbed or behaving in a wild, irrational way.
