Unhinge

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈhɪndʒ/

Definitions of unhinge

verb To disturb or unsettle; to cause someone to become mentally unbalanced or disturbed.

Example Sentences

A1 I accidentally unhinged the door when I bumped into it.

A2 The loud noise from the construction site unhinged the old lady's nerves.

B1 The unexpected news of his promotion unhinged his carefully laid out plans for the future.

B2 The sudden loss of her job completely unhinged her sense of stability and security.

C1 The intense pressure of the competition began to unhinge his mental state, leading to erratic behavior.

C2 The revelation of his past crimes unhinged the public's trust in his leadership abilities.

Examples of unhinge in a Sentence

formal The constant pressure and stress can unhinge even the most stable individuals.

informal I think all the noise and chaos is starting to unhinge me.

slang That movie was so scary, it totally unhinged me!

figurative The unexpected news seemed to unhinge her entire world.

Grammatical Forms of unhinge

• past tense: unhinged
• plural: unhinges
• comparative: more unhinged
• superlative: most unhinged
• present tense: unhinge
• future tense: will unhinge
• perfect tense: has unhinged
• continuous tense: is unhinging
• singular: unhinge
• positive degree: unhinged
• infinitive: unhinge
• gerund: unhinging
• participle: unhinged

Origin and Evolution of unhinge

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'unhinge' originated from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of' and the word 'hinge' which refers to a jointed or movable piece on which a door, gate, or lid swings as it opens and closes.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the literal sense of physically removing a hinge, the word 'unhinge' has evolved to also mean to disturb mentally or emotionally, causing someone to become mentally unstable or lose composure.