Library / English Dictionary

DERANGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Throw into great confusion or disorder

Example:

Fundamentalists threaten to perturb the social order

Synonyms:

derange; perturb; throw out of kilter

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "derange" is one way to...):

disarray; disorder (bring disorder to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

derangement (the act of disturbing the mind or body)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Derange mentally, throw out of mental balance; make insane

Example:

The death of his parents unbalanced him

Synonyms:

derange; unbalance

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "derange" is one way to...):

craze; madden (cause to go crazy; cause to lose one's mind)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

derangement (a state of mental disturbance and disorientation)

Credits

 Context examples: 

So Wilson was reduced to a man "deranged by grief" in order that the case might remain in its simplest form.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)