- to remove (a door, gate, etc) from its hinges
- to derange or unbalance (a person, his or her mind, etc)
- to disrupt or unsettle (a process or state of affairs)
- (usually followed by from) to detach or dislodge
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•hinged
(un hinjd′),USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- having no hinge or hinges, or with the hinges removed:an unhinged gate.
- unsettled, disordered, or distraught:He became unhinged when his friend died.
- 1710–20; (def. 1) un-1 + hinged; (def. 2) unhinge + -ed2
un•hinge /ʌnˈhɪndʒ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -hinged, -hing•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to remove from hinges:to unhinge a door.
- to throw into confusion or turmoil;
upset:threats that could unhinge a timid soul.
un•hinge
(un hinj′),USA pronunciation v.t., -hinged, -hing•ing.
un•hinge′ment, n.
- to remove (a door or the like) from hinges.
- to open wide by or as if by removing supporting hinges:to unhinge one's jaws.
- to upset;
unbalance;
disorient;
throw into confusion or turmoil:to unhinge the mind. - to dislocate or disrupt the normal operation of;
unsettle:to unhinge plans. - to detach or separate from something.
- to cause to waver or vacillate:to unhinge supporters of conservative policies.
- un-2 + hinge 1605–15
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
unhinge /ʌnˈhɪndʒ/ vb (transitive)
'unhinged' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):