UNHINGE Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

unhinge

verb

ˌən-ˈhinj

Definition of unhinge

as in to disturb

to cause to go insane or as if insane the endless harassment by the guards completely unhinged the prisoners of war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to distract

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy I was momentarily unhinged by the unexpected question

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of unhinge The film shot Curry Barker onto the A-list of new directing talent and made a star of Inde Navarrette and her virtuosically unhinged performance as Nikki. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 The music of their first decade was gloriously unhinged, and inspirational to folks from Kurt Cobain to the Flaming Lips. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026 Southern Gothic — an increasingly popular genre — revels in decay, toxic nostalgia and the unhinged. — Lo Patrick, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 Even in her exaggerated innocence, there’s something delightfully unhinged about her. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unhinge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhinge

Verb

Sulfur-rich gases reaching the upper atmosphere could reflect sunlight and temporarily cool the climate, disturbing rainfall and reducing harvests worldwide.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Some people think putting more and more effects is the best way to express ourselves for the audience, and some filmmakers just want to keep the balance without disturbing the original movie.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturb

Verb

Investigators say a tire was placed in the road in a plot to distract and kill Jared Bridegan, 33, in Jacksonville Beach in 2022.

— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Kiser’s husband, Brady Kiser, said he had been briefly distracted while watching Trigg while his wife was away.

— Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

The Eagles’ cornerback depth chart is unsettled after the top three.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The attack comes just days before fall classes begin at the historically Black university, unsettling students who had recently moved into residence halls and completed freshman orientation events.

— Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsettle

Verb

Contreras rarely takes days off but asked for a day off Sunday with his leg bothering him.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Chapman won’t play another game for the Giants this year after undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this week, but the 33-year-old has finally addressed an ailment that’s bothered him for effectively the whole season.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of bother

Verb

Featuring an ensemble populated by killer character actors like Jacki Weaver, Luis Guzmán, Kurtwood Smith, Timothy Spall, and Michael Chernus, Perpetual Grace, LTD is an off-kilter neo-noir that mines deranged humor from its eccentric characters.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
Instagram demanded a certain sort of woman and then produced her, deranging broad swaths of the population in the process.

— Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026

Definition of derange

Verb

Denying the Wave a crucial 1-0 lead, no teammate could convert on a bright drive and dish by speedster Ludmila that unbalanced Seattle’s defense.

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026
The risk is that only a handful of clubs will be able to cough up those sums, unbalancing the market.

— Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 19 May 2026

Definition of unbalance

Verb

Garcia said that before the attack, residents were already alarmed by a May news release from the city manager of neighboring Rio Vista, who warned that the project and potential annexation could open the door to a giant data center being built.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Terrified Jewish voters—alarmed by progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s anti-Zionist rhetoric—are fleeing to Republican Mike Rogers for self-preservation.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarm

Browse Nearby Words

unhindered

unhinge

unhinged

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“Unhinge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhinge. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of unhinge

verb

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