English Reference

Word

unhinged

Phoneticsun·hinged

US/ənˈhɪndʒd/

UK/ʌnhˈɪndʒd/

Definition

adj. behaving in a way that is very strange, wild, or mentally unstable. It is often used to describe someone who has lost control of their actions or thoughts.

adj. mentally unbalanced or deranged; characterized by erratic and unstable behavior. In contemporary informal contexts, it frequently describes extreme or wildly inappropriate social media posts or public outbursts.

Examples

“His latest social media posts are completely unhinged.”

“The movie features an unhinged villain whose plans for world domination make very little sense.”

“What began as a mild disagreement quickly spiraled into an unhinged rant that left everyone in the boardroom feeling deeply uncomfortable and concerned for his well-being.”

Examples

simple

“His latest social media posts are completely unhinged.”

contextual

“The movie features an unhinged villain whose plans for world domination make very little sense.”

complex

“What began as a mild disagreement quickly spiraled into an unhinged rant that left everyone in the boardroom feeling deeply uncomfortable and concerned for his well-being.”

Usage

Commonly used as a predicative adjective following linking verbs like 'seem', 'sound', or 'become'.

Real-World Examples

“To me, the term sounded creepy, an activity of the unhinged.”
The Guardian · 23 Aug 2026
“It’s fuelled by scrappy ambition, Lovecraft fan fiction and wonderfully unhinged scenario design.”
The Guardian · 17 Aug 2026

Word family

hingedAdjectiveunhingedAdjective

Idioms

come unhinged — To become angered or crazy; to lose control of one's senses or sanity.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/unhinged

English Reference