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unhinged
/ʌnˈhɪndʒd/
mentally unstable or irrational
His unhinged behavior at the party shocked everyone.
His extremely irrational and unpredictable actions surprised everyone.
informal
Mentally unstable, irrational, or behaving in a wild and uncontrolled manner
The unhinged conspiracy theorist ranted about government mind control.
The mentally unstable person shouted wild and irrational claims about government mind control.
After years of stress, she became completely unhinged.
After enduring prolonged stress, she lost her mental stability and behaved erratically.
Often used to describe someone who has lost control of their emotions or sanity.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Use 'unhinged' to describe extreme irrationality, not mild eccentricity.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Reserve 'unhinged' for extreme cases to maintain its impact.
Word Origin
From 'un-' (not) + 'hinge' (a pivot point), originally referring to something physically detached from its pivot, now used metaphorically for mental instability.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in informal contexts to describe extreme emotional or mental instability. Avoid using in formal or clinical settings.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixhinged
attached by a pivot
rootEnglish Dictionary