derange

verb

de·​range di-ˈrānj How to pronounce derange (audio)
deranged; deranging

transitive verb

1
: to disturb the operation or functions of
deranged by even the slightest damage
2
: disarrange
hatless, with tie derangedG. W. Stonier
3
: to make mentally unsound
derangement noun

Examples of derange in a Sentence

being stranded at night on a lonely road would derange anyone the storage room had all been deranged by the earthquake, and it took hours to sort things out
Recent Examples on the Web Written in black and white, the attacks look deranged. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 31 May 2023 The busy, fevered covers—everyone looks deranged—practically shout for a browser’s attention, in contrast to the subtler ones gracing later Clowes books like Wilson (2010) and Patience (2016). Ed Park, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2023 But in her new album Workin’ on a World, that goodness is now deranged. Armond White, National Review, 28 Apr. 2023 Where could a show this beautifully deranged go from here? Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2023 Terriers are deranged animals who could probably teach us a lot about how brains pointlessly track small movements and changes; these traits of theirs far exceed those needed to hunt small rustling prey. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023 Eventually this damage can derange cells enough to result in cancer. David J. Waters, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015 Clearly, he is deranged. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 31 Mar. 2023 The theme of restive youth deranged by suburban propriety was one that Cookie, born Dorothy Karen Mueller in 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland, knew all too well. Negar Azimi, The New York Review of Books, 30 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'derange.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French déranger, from Old French desrengier, from des- de- + reng line, row — more at rank entry 1

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of derange was in 1769

Dictionary Entries Near derange

Cite this Entry

“Derange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derange. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

derange

verb
de·​range di-ˈrānj How to pronounce derange (audio)
deranged; deranging
1
: to put out of order : disarrange
hair deranged by the wind
2
: to make insane
derangement noun

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