Meaning & use

Unstrung

adjective·Advanced

Last updated

Emotionally shaken or nervous, or, of an instrument or bow, having the strings removed or loosened.

See it in a sentence

The near-accident left her completely unstrung for the rest of the day.

He kept his violin unstrung while traveling to protect the strings from tension damage.

A note on using this word

Unstrung began as a literal term for loosening the strings of a bow or instrument before it developed its common figurative sense of being emotionally undone.

Words with a similar meaning

rattledshaken

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Having the strings removed or loosened, as of a musical instrument or bow.

The archer kept his bow unstrung until it was time to shoot.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Unstrung”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.