unmoored

Meaning 1: when describing emotional instability

Lacking stability, direction, or a sense of connection to one's environment or principles.

Examples

• The sudden change in leadership left the entire department feeling unmoored and anxious about the future.
• She felt unmoored from her cultural roots after living abroad for over a decade.

Meaning 2: in nautical contexts

having been released from the cables or anchors that held a ship in place

Examples

• The ship became unmoored during the storm and drifted toward the rocks.
• Ensure the vessel is properly unmoored before you start the engine.

Pronunciation: ˌʌnˈmʊərd

How to Use unmoored

feel unmoored (collocation)

to experience a sense of instability or loss of direction — "He began to feel unmoored after his long-term project was suddenly cancelled."

leave someone unmoored (collocation)

to cause someone to lose their sense of stability — "The unexpected news left the entire team feeling completely unmoored."

Synonyms of unmoored

Words with a similar meaning to unmoored:

• lost
• unstable
• disoriented
• adrift

Antonyms of unmoored

Words with the opposite meaning to unmoored:

• grounded
• anchored