adj
unhinged
uhn-HIHNJD
Unhinged (adj) means Mentally unstable or out of control. Example: “His behaviour grew increasingly unhinged after the divorce.”
adj
1
Mentally unstable or out of control.
"His behaviour grew increasingly unhinged after the divorce."
"The internet reacted to the singer's unhinged rant online."
2
Literally removed from, or not fitted with, its hinges.
"The gate hung unhinged against the fence."
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.
When to use it
The figurative "unstable/wild" sense is now very common in informal and internet slang, often used humorously ("an unhinged meme").
Common pairings
go unhinged
unhinged behaviour
completely unhinged
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more unhinged
- Superlative
- most unhinged
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
