Deranged: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in more formal or clinical contexts to describe someone whose behavior or mental state is profoundly disturbed.

• The suspect's deranged rantings made it clear he was not in his right mind.
• She was committed to a mental institution after being diagnosed as deranged.

Often used to describe someone who has lost touch with reality or to emphasize an extreme level of something. It can be formal or informal and sometimes carries a negative connotation.

• The idea of jumping out of a plane without a parachute is downright insane.
• The court declared him legally insane.

Commonly used in British English to describe someone who is mentally ill, though in American English it is more often used to describe anger. It can be either casual or more serious.

• Are you mad? You can't swim across the river!
• The professor's mad experiments always drew a crowd.

Commonly used in everyday language to describe someone or something that is wild, unpredictable, or out of the norm. It can be either playful or offensive depending on the context.

• That roller coaster ride was absolutely crazy!
• He's crazy if he thinks he can finish that project in one day.

Used primarily in medical or psychological contexts to describe someone suffering from psychosis, a severe mental disorder where they lose touch with reality.

• The patient exhibited psychotic symptoms and required immediate hospitalization.
• His psychotic behavior included hearing voices that weren't there.

Used to describe someone's mental state when they are seen as extremely disturbed or insane. Usually carries a strong, negative connotation.

• After the accident, he seemed completely deranged.
• The deranged man was shouting in the middle of the street.

Often used to describe things that are out of order or arrangements that are highly confused. Can also refer to a state of physical or mental imbalance.

• His desk was disordered, with papers strewn everywhere.
• The patient exhibited signs of disordered thinking.

Describes a situation that is extremely disorganized or messy. Does not necessarily imply a mental condition.

• The city's traffic is chaotic during rush hour.
• Their plan was chaotic and lacked any clear structure.

Can refer to something that lacks equilibrium or to someone who is emotionally or mentally unstable. It has a softer negative connotation compared to 'deranged'.

• The painting was unbalanced, with too much weight on one side.
• He seemed a bit unbalanced after the stressful week.