unhinged

[uhn-hinjd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unhinged ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having no hinge or hinges, or with the hinges removed: an unhinged gate.

unsettled, disordered, or distraught: He became unhinged when his friend died.

Nearby words

Origin of unhinged

1710–20; (def 1) un-¹ + hinged; (def 2) unhinge + -ed²

unhinge

[uhn-hinj]

verb (used with object), un·hinged, un·hing·ing.

to remove (a door or the like) from hinges.

to open wide by or as if by removing supporting hinges: to unhinge one's jaws.

to upset; unbalance; disorient; throw into confusion or turmoil: to unhinge the mind.

to dislocate or disrupt the normal operation of; unsettle: to unhinge plans.

to detach or separate from something.

to cause to waver or vacillate: to unhinge supporters of conservative policies.

Origin of unhinge

First recorded in 1605–15; un-² + hinge

Related formsun·hinge·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unhinged

They were unhinged souls looking for a cause and found it in the belief that hating the government was patriotic.
Hatriot Politics Created the Las Vegas Killers|John Avlon|June 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To be fair, Abbott is hardly the only prominent Republican to embrace the unhinged rocker.
GOP’s Wango Tango With Ted Nugent|Michelle Cottle|February 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This was Boehner unplugged—possibly Boehner unhinged (unhinged from his talking points, at least).
John Boehner Live and Unhinged with Jay Leno|Lloyd Grove|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, I had to pass on a nice book deal, good front $$, for Unhinged because they wanted me to write more about Jim (Morrison).
The Doors Never Sold Out to Crass Commercialism|John Densmore|September 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST

What is it about Reza Aslan that has unhinged so many people?
Jesus Needs Reza Aslan, Author of 'Zealot'|Kirsten Powers|August 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Society is unhinged, and every one is afraid to offer an opinion.
Olla Podrida|Frederick Marryat (AKA Captain Marryat)
A great blow was falling on him, which unhinged him more than any difficulties or defeats had yet done.
A History of England, Period III.|Rev. J. Franck Bright
The gates were unhinged and flung down: the royal army entered as in a conquered city.
Paris and its Story|Thomas Okey
When he was quite a young man he met with a sorrow that unhinged his mind and hewell, he committed a crime.
The Automobile Girls Along the Hudson|Laura Dent Crane
Sara's mouth had been gradually closing, but it unhinged again.
Sense from Thought Divide|Mark Irvin Clifton

British Dictionary definitions for unhinged

unhinge

verb (tr)

to remove (a door, gate, etc) from its hinges

to derange or unbalance (a person, his mind, etc)

to disrupt or unsettle (a process or state of affairs)

(usually foll by from) to detach or dislodge

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unhinged

unhinged

adj.

"thrown into confusion," 1719, past participle adjective from unhinge.

unhinge

recorded earlier in the mental sense of "to disorder" the mind, etc. (1612) than in the literal one of "to take (a door, etc.) off its hinges" (1616); from un- (2) + hinge (v.). Related: Unhinged; unhinging.

unhinged

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of unhinged

unhinge

verb (used with object), un·hinged, un·hing·ing.

Origin of unhinge

Examples from the Web for unhinged

unhinge

verb (tr)

unhinged

unhinge