unbalanced
unbalanced Lexical Profile
unbalanced Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Not having an even distribution of weight, force, or physical equilibrium; unstable.
"The washing machine began to shake violently because the heavy wet towels made the load unbalanced."
Lacking proper proportion, fairness, or equal representation of different parts or perspectives.
"Critics argued that the documentary presented an unbalanced view of the economic crisis."
Emotionally or mentally disturbed or unstable.
"The novel's narrator gradually reveals himself to be deeply unbalanced and unreliable."
Not adjusted so that debits and credits correspond equally (of a financial account or budget).
"The auditor flagged an unbalanced ledger entry from the previous fiscal quarter."
• verb
To cause someone or something to lose physical equilibrium, stability, or proportion (past tense and past participle of unbalance).
"The sudden gust of wind unbalanced the cyclist as she rounded the corner."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Unbalanced' and 'imbalanced' are closely related, but 'unbalanced' often implies that something once had equilibrium and lost it (or refers to mental instability), whereas 'imbalanced' more commonly describes a structural or statistical lack of proportion (such as an imbalanced diet or trade deficit).