Unbalanced
/ʌnˈbælənst/
Definitions
2 meaningsNot in a state of equilibrium; lacking stability or proportion. It can refer to physical states, emotional states, or even financial states.
/ʌnˈbælənst/
Lacking stability or equilibrium
The bookshelf was unstable because it was unbalanced.
💡 Simply: Think of a seesaw with a super heavy kid on one side and a tiny kid on the other. That's unbalanced! It's when things aren't even or fair.
👶 For kids: When things aren't equal or fair. Like when you have a lot more toys than your friend.
More Examples
The economic situation of the country is unbalanced with high inflation.
He felt unbalanced after the sudden news.
How It's Used
"An unbalanced force will cause acceleration."
"An unbalanced budget can lead to economic instability."
"Her unbalanced emotional state made it difficult to communicate."
Referring to someone not in a state of mental or emotional stability. It can be used in a clinical or descriptive context to suggest impaired judgment, erratic behavior, or mood swings.
/ʌnˈbælənst/
Mentally or emotionally unstable
The stress of the situation left her feeling emotionally unbalanced.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone who's super moody and can't control their feelings, like they swing from happy to sad really fast. That person is emotionally unbalanced.
👶 For kids: When a person's feelings are all over the place, like happy one minute and mad the next.
More Examples
The doctor diagnosed him as having an unbalanced mental state.
An unbalanced diet can affect your mood
How It's Used
"His unbalanced emotional state led to erratic behavior."
"The character's unbalanced mind led to tragic consequences."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
An unbalanced diet
A diet that lacks the correct proportions of nutrients or food groups.
"Eating an unbalanced diet can lead to various health problems."
From 'un-' (not) + 'balanced', derived from Latin 'bis' (twice) and 'lanx' (scale). The word evolved from the concept of equilibrium in scales to more general states of stability and proportion.
The term 'unbalanced' has existed since the 16th century, reflecting early understanding of scales and measurement, later expanding to psychological and emotional concepts.
Memory tip
Imagine a seesaw where one side is much heavier than the other; it's unbalanced.
Word Origin
"Having two scales"