Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not balanced; lacking equilibrium: The state of being unevenly distributed, not in a state of proper balance or proportion.
   • Mentally disturbed or unstable: Affected by emotional or psychological instability; not sound of mind.
   • (Finance) Not having equal debits and credits: Of an account, where the total debits do not equal the total credits.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Physical/General Balance):
  • The load on the truck was unbalanced and caused it to sway dangerously.
  • An unbalanced diet can lead to health problems.
• Adjective (Mental State):
  • The character in the novel was portrayed as emotionally unbalanced.
  • The stress of the event left him feeling temporarily unbalanced.
• Adjective (Financial):
  • The accountant discovered an unbalanced ledger at the end of the quarter.

Advanced Usage

• "to feel unbalanced": to feel emotionally or physically unsteady, disoriented.
  • After the sudden news, she felt completely unbalanced for the rest of the day.
• In a technical/engineering context: Refers to a system or force that is not in equilibrium.
  • Unbalanced forces cause a change in an object's motion.

Variants and Related Words

• Unbalance (verb): To cause to become unbalanced.
  • The sudden weight shift unbalanced the cyclist.
• Imbalanced (adjective): Often used synonymously with 'unbalanced', especially regarding proportions or distributions.
  • There is an imbalanced ratio of students to teachers.
• Balance (noun/verb): The antonym and root word.

Synonyms

• Uneven: Not level or equal.
• Unstable: Liable to change or fail; not firmly fixed.
• Unsound: Not physically or mentally healthy; flawed.
• Lopsided: With one side lower or smaller than the other.

Antonyms

• Balanced: Being in a state of equilibrium.
• Stable: Not likely to change or fail; firmly fixed.
• Sound: In good condition; based on valid reasoning.
• Steady: Firmly fixed, supported, or balanced.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Throw someone off balance": To surprise or confuse someone, making them feel uncertain or unstable (conceptually related).
  • The tricky question threw the speaker off balance.

Adjective

1. debits and credits are not equal
2. affected with madness or insanity
   • a man who had gone mad
3. being or thrown out of equilibrium