unhinged
Unhinged (adj) means Mentally unstable or out of control. Example: “His behaviour grew increasingly unhinged after the divorce.”
How to use unhinged
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWild, out-of-control, or mentally unstable — very commonly used online in a half-joking way about extreme behaviour.
The figurative "unstable/wild" sense is now very common in informal and internet slang, often used humorously ("an unhinged meme").
Word forms
more unhinged comparative, more unhinged comparative, most unhinged superlative, most unhinged superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His behaviour grew increasingly _____ after the divorce.
Etymology
From unhinge + -ed — literally "taken off its hinges," extended figuratively to mean mentally unstable.
Rhymes for unhinged
See all rhymes for unhinged →Frequently asked questions
What does “unhinged” mean?
The word “unhinged” means mentally unstable or out of control. In plain terms, wild, out-of-control, or mentally unstable — very commonly used online in a half-joking way about extreme behaviour.
How do you pronounce “unhinged”?
“Unhinged” is pronounced uhn-HIHNJD (/ʌnˈhɪndʒd/ in IPA).
How do you use “unhinged” in a sentence?
Here is “unhinged” used in a sentence: “His behaviour grew increasingly unhinged after the divorce.”
What part of speech is “unhinged”?
“Unhinged” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “unhinged” have?
“Unhinged” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: mentally unstable or out of control.