# unmoored

**Pronunciation:** ˌʌnˈmʊərd · un-MOORD

**Part of speech:** adjective

## 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.
- Without a clear goal, his daily routine became unmoored, drifting aimlessly from one task to the next.

## 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.
- The harbor master noticed the small boat was unmoored and floating toward the open sea.

## Synonyms

- lost — General sense of not knowing where one is or what to do.
- unstable — Lacking a firm foundation or consistent state.
- disoriented — Confused about one's location or current situation.
- adrift — Poetic term for lacking purpose or direction, closely matching unmoored.

## Antonyms

- grounded — Having a firm sense of reality and personal values.
- anchored — Firmly secured or connected to something stable.

## Common patterns

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

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/unmoored

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