unbalance

American  

[uhn-bal-uhns] / ʌnˈbæl əns /

verb (used with object)

unbalanced, unbalancing

1. to throw or put out of balance.

2. to disorder or derange, as the mind.

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noun

1. unbalanced condition.

unbalance British  

/ ʌnˈbæləns /

verb

1. to upset the equilibrium or balance of

2. to disturb the mental stability of (a person or his mind)

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noun

1. imbalance or instability

Other Word Forms

• unbalanceable adjective

Etymology

Origin of unbalance

First recorded in 1580–90; un- ² + balance

Explanation

To unbalance is to make unsteady or uneven. A sudden gust of wind might unbalance you when you're on a sailboat — don't forget to wear a life jacket! Throw something off balance, and you unbalance it. Tickling someone who's in a one-legged yoga stance will unbalance them, and leaning too far to one side will unbalance a new bike rider. You can also call this state of being out of kilter or wobbly unbalance: "The unbalance of the tightrope walker made me glad there was a net underneath him!" And figuratively, unbalance can also mean "disturb or upset."

Example Sentences

Greek officials say they were faced with a dilemma on what to do with a vessel that had repeatedly declined offers of assistance, worried that even the slightest shift could unbalance the boat.

From Reuters • Jun. 15, 2023

A rash of late summer signings seemed like a quick fix and created an unbalance to the side that Nice coach Lucien Favre has yet to resolve.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2022

Directorial impulses that seem designed to ratchet up the audience-pleasing quotients of some of his most famous plays, but that in one way or another unbalance them and diminish their inherent power.

From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2022

There are, however, dangers associated with doing this, as it could cause damage and even unbalance the ship.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2021

And the tangle of vines and undergrowth, which unbalance me occasionally, trip him at every step.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins