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unhinged

unhinged

27 7.8
A person who is not thinking or acting in a normal and safe way
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈhɪndʒd/
  • Offensive
: loco
  • After the stressful incident, he seemed completely unhinged, talking to himself in the corner.
  • become unhinged

And you now look more unhinged than the narcissist.

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Examples

  • I think that she's unhinged and chaotic, and I am also unhinged and chaotic in certain ways.

  • He was like this absolutely unhinged sports fan.

  • But like, he is unhinged in the worst way.

  • I may have been a little unhinged for this last part, sorry.

  • And that is so unhinged and so evil.

  • So if I'm acting a little bit weird or I start becoming more and more unhinged, that is why.

  • It's just another reminder that an unhinged person is probably up to no good again.

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  • It's jaw-dropping how unhinged this man is.

  • So we are unsettled, we are unhinged, but we are not without any hope.

  • She was either unhinged or completely crazy, or just a flair for the drama.

Synonyms

crazy
vsunhinged
  • Offensive
∞ 4.1

Mentally ill and unable to think or behave in a normal way

is the same idea of mental imbalance and loss of control
psychotic
vsunhinged
  • Specialized
151 8.4

Not in touch with reality and may see or hear things that are not there

refers to general loss of balance rather than a specific clinical syndrome
disturbed
vsunhinged
138 3.8

Feeling upset or worried and unable to think clearly

refers to a deeper, more severe loss of mental balance than that
crazed
vsunhinged
89 5.0

Acting in a wild and uncontrolled way

is the general notion of mental imbalance rather than only frantic action
mentally ill
vsunhinged
  • Vulgar
87 3.4

Having a serious problem with thinking, feeling, or behaving because of a brain condition

refers more to general unbalance rather than formal clinical diagnosis
unstable
vsunhinged
79 4.4

A person whose mood or behavior changes suddenly

is a broader state of mental imbalance rather than mere mood swings
deranged
vsunhinged
  • Offensive
72 7.6

Not able to think or act in a normal, reasonable way

describes broad mental imbalance rather than only outward strange actions
bonkers
vsunhinged
  • Informal
28 8.0

Acting or feeling very strange

is the general clinical sense of mental unbalance rather than informal speech
maniacal
vsunhinged
16 8.6

Very wild and out of control, seeming crazy

covers mental unbalance as a state not limited to frenzied actions
unbalanced
vsunhinged
13 5.7

A person who is not mentally well and often acts strangely

expresses the same loss of mental balance and irrational behavior
raving mad
vsunhinged
  • Informal
7 7.2

Acting or speaking in a wild, not sensible way

describes mental imbalance more broadly rather than only extreme wild behavior
cracked
vsunhinged
  • Offensive
7 7.4

Someone who acts a little crazy

describes a more serious mental condition rather than mild eccentricity
insane in the membrane
vsunhinged
  • Slang
2 9.8

Acting or feeling very silly and not thinking clearly, often as a joke

refers to the true mental imbalance rather than playful or exaggerated expressions
half-crazed
vsunhinged
2 7.8

Very frightened or upset and not thinking clearly

refers to full mental imbalance rather than only partial or temporary loss
unsound
vsunhinged
  • Formal
2 8.4

Mentally ill and not able to manage personal affairs

is the more general term for mental imbalance without legal focus
around the bend
vsunhinged
  • Offensive
1 9.3

To be very confused or act in a strange way

expresses the formal concept of loss of mental balance rather than slang
distempered
vsunhinged
  • Archaic
1 8.5

In a disturbed state of mind or health

is the common term for mental imbalance rather than a disordered descriptor
brainsick
vsunhinged
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Being very ill in the mind and not thinking clearly

is the same mental illness idea but in more neutral modern language
off one's nut
vsunhinged
  • Offensive
9.9

Acting in a very strange and not sensible way

is the clinical idea of mental imbalance rather than idiomatic exaggeration

Antonyms

130 3.2

Having a healthy mind and able to think clearly

How Unbalanced

deranged
  • Offensive
72 7.6
unhinged
  • Offensive
27 7.8
disturbed
138 3.8
unstable
79 4.4

Surface Forms

unhinged positive

Morphology

unhinged = unhinge (semi-transparent) = un + hinge + ed

The verb 'unhinge' is transparently formed from 'un-' + 'hinge'.

Etymology

Unhinged comes from the prefix un- meaning 'not' and hinge, the piece that lets a door swing. If a door is 'unhinged' it comes off and can swing wildly, so calling a person unhinged gives the image of someone who is not mentally balanced and acts out of control.