unhinge

verb

un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj How to pronounce unhinge (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile, Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic was unhinged in the contest, scoring a career-high 61 points, along with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals. Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025 But on the screen, both Emily and Stephanie were utterly unhinged from the start. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2025 Elon Musk is attending Trump's cabinet meeting & the media is unhinged. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025 The skies are a lot less friendly to fly with a balding, unhinged Mark Wahlberg in the pilot seat. Brent Lang, Variety, 1 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unhinge

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhinge was in 1612

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Cite this Entry

“Unhinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhinge. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

unhinge

verb
un·​hinge ˌən-ˈhinj How to pronounce unhinge (audio)
1
: unsettle sense 2, disrupt
a mind unhinged by grief
2
: to remove (as a door) from the hinges

More from Merriam-Webster on unhinge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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