unhinged

/ʌnˈhɪndʒd/ (bre, ipa) · [ənhˈɪndʒd] /ʌnˈhɪndʒd/ (ame, ipa) · [ənhˈɪndʒd] /ˌən-ˈhinjd How to pronounce unhinged (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unhinged — adjective

  • unhingedpositive
  • more unhingedcomparative
  • most unhingedsuperlative

1. describes a person whose thoughts or actions have become so extreme, uncontrolle

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a person whose thoughts or actions have become so extreme, uncontrolled, or strange that they seem unable to function in a normal or reasonable way — for example, someone who suddenly starts shouting wildly, making no sense, or acting in a dangerous manner after a terrible shock.

例句

After being fired, Diego became increasingly unhinged and began screaming at strangers in the park.

become + increasingly unhinged (collocation for gradual change)

Ananya's unhinged behaviour at the wedding worried every single one of her relatives.

unhinged + behaviour (attributive adjective + noun)

同義詞
  • crazy

    more common and broader in meaning — can be used playfully ('That's a crazy idea') whereas 'unhinged' always describes serious disturbance

  • insane

    overlaps in meaning but has stronger clinical history; 'insane' is also used informally for extreme ideas while 'unhinged' focuses on loss of control

  • deranged

    more formal and suggests a more systematic, dangerous kind of madness; 'unhinged' is lighter and more about emotional breakdown

反義詞
  • sane

    opposite in the mental-health sense — legally or clinically of sound mind

  • composed

    opposite in the emotional-control sense — calm and in control

文法句型

be + unhinged

become/grow + unhinged

unhinged + noun

用法筆記

Informal and figurative — not a clinical or medical term. Suggests a sudden loss of emotional or mental control triggered by a specific event (grief, stress, shock) rather than a diagnosed or long-term condition. Frequently used in the patterns 'become/grow unhinged' or 'completely/totally unhinged'.

常見錯誤

❌The patient was diagnosed as unhinged.
✅The patient was diagnosed with a mental disorder.
💡'unhinged' is an informal, non-clinical word; doctors never use it in official diagnoses.
❌She has been unhinged since childhood.
✅She has been deeply disturbed since childhood.
💡'unhinged' describes a sudden change or dramatic moment, not a lifelong or stable condition.