unhinge

verb

un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj 

unhinged; unhinging; unhinges

transitive verb

1

: to make unstable : unsettle, disrupt

unhinge the balance of world peace

pressure that would unhinge a less experienced person

2

: to remove from the hinges

unhinge a door

Synonyms

• crack
• craze
• derange
• frenzy
• loco
• madden
• unbalance
• unstring

Examples of unhinge in a Sentence

the endless harassment by the guards completely unhinged the prisoners of war

I was momentarily unhinged by the unexpected question.

Recent Examples on the Web

New Yorkers have had enough with a dangerous and endless loop whereby obviously unstable people cycle through the courts, jails and hospitals, then wind up untreated and unhinged back on the streets and subways. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Nov. 2024

View 6 Images Multitool maker Sanctum has unhinged the knife from its case, creating a modern twist on the pocket knife. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Nov. 2024

Denzel is still the tough guy, but he’s not unhinged enough to make a world like this one feel quite alive or real. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024

Monroe plays Lee with a certain steadfast restraint, keeping her emotions shielded until the film’s terrifying plot strips that shield away bit by bit, and Cage is … well, he’s unhinged in all the best ways. —Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 12 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

unhinge

verb

un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj 

1

: unsettle sense 2, disrupt

a mind unhinged by grief

2

: to remove (as a door) from the hinges