1 unhinge | Definition of unhinge

unhinge

verb
un·​hinge | \ ˌən-ˈhinj How to pronounce unhinge (audio) \
unhinged; unhinging; unhinges

Definition of unhinge

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

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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

The front-runners appear almost unhinged in promoting issues that that are not supported by a majority of Americans in polls. Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "What Could Sink Trump’s Chances in 2020?," 22 Aug. 2019 The looming recession and downturn has the president coming unhinged. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, "2020 candidates condemn Trump, Israel over ban on Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib," 15 Aug. 2019 The front-runners appear almost unhinged in promoting issues that that are not supported by a majority of Americans in polls. Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, "Victor Davis Hanson: What could sink Trump’s chances in 2020?," 23 Aug. 2019 That game-tying homer seemed to unhinge Teheran and lock down the Padres — or at least Margot. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Braves score three in 10th to beat Padres again," 13 July 2019 That’s what [showrunners Michelle and Robert King] want to write about: the world becoming unhinged. Margy Rochlin, latimes.com, "Christine Baranski and ‘The Good Fight’ tackle ‘the world becoming unhinged’," 3 June 2019 That demographic fact may be why an otherwise hyper-political and often unhinged California state government apparently does not dare rename, remodel, or close down the touristy missions. Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "The Cowardly Incoherence of Name-Changing, Statue-Toppling, and other Iconoclasms," 25 June 2019 Look out for Gronk gone wild, Gronk unhinged, Gronk unleashed. Dan Gelston, The Seattle Times, "Gronk unleashed: Gronkowski sets course for retirement fun," 25 Mar. 2019 The senior Trump staffer under the cloak of anonymity spends a wildly unflattering tale of a president supposedly unhinged from reality making impulsive decisions that supposedly blindside and frustrate top officials and perpetual damage control. Fox News, "Kellyanne Conway reacts to anonymous 'resistance' NYT op-ed," 5 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unhinge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of unhinge

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for unhinge

unhinge

verb

English Language Learners Definition of unhinge

: to make (someone) very upset or mentally ill

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More from Merriam-Webster on unhinge

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with unhinge

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unhinge

Spanish Central: Translation of unhinge

Nglish: Translation of unhinge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of unhinge for Arabic Speakers