become deranged

USAGE SUMMARY

"become deranged" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who has lost their sanity or is acting irrationally. Example: "After weeks of isolation, he began to become deranged." Alternative expressions include "lose one's mind" and "go insane."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

That's the only Trump Syndrome we ought to worry about, and it can become deranged.

The New Yorker

His wife who has become deranged, seeing the knife as a symbol of her husband, stabs the landlord.

The New Yorker

The most quiet and reserved people may become deranged loudmouths when they sit behind the keyboard, staying up until dawn and conducting angry debates on discussion boards with total strangers.

The New York Times - Magazine

Eric knows that to charge the most secretive agency of American government with murder is to incur the suspicion that you have become deranged by anger, grief, paranoia, greed or a combination of all four.

The New York Times - Magazine

How many of us would become deranged by grief and resolve to fight back, even against the other side's women and children?

Huffington Post

At times, Jack is forced to travel through areas controlled by Ryan's allies that have now become deranged, such as Sander Cohen, a former musician that now takes enjoyment in watching the death and misery of others.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Gradually the character becomes deranged.

The New York Times - Arts

Too much of this, and it's the mind that becomes deranged.

The New York Times

While cordial at first, the man soon became "deranged," she said.

The New York Times

When it becomes deranged, as during infections, heat is conserved unnecessarily and the temperature can exceed the normal range (see fever).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Longing to be adopted, she approaches one adult role model after another until she eventually becomes deranged by her father's repeated abuse.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "become deranged", consider the context to ensure it aligns with the severity and nature of the mental state you are describing. It implies a significant departure from normal mental functioning.

Common error

Avoid using "become deranged" in casual conversation or humorous situations. The phrase carries a strong connotation of mental instability and should be reserved for serious or clinical contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become deranged" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of losing mental stability or sanity. As shown by Ludwig, it can describe a character's mental decline in literature, or a biological process. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "become deranged" is a verb phrase used to describe the process of losing mental stability or sanity. It's considered grammatically correct and is used in contexts ranging from News & Media to Wiki and Scientific publications. As Ludwig indicates, this expression is appropriate in various settings; however, it is more common in neutral to formal registers. While the phrase is well-established, alternative phrases like "lose one's mind" or "go insane" may be more suitable in informal contexts. Therefore, while the phrase can be valuable for formal descriptive writing, one needs to exercise caution in informal and jovial situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lose one's mind

More informal and general way to describe losing sanity.

go insane

Indicates a more severe and potentially permanent loss of mental stability.

snap

Suggests a sudden and abrupt loss of control.

descend into madness

Implies a gradual and progressive decline in mental health.

become unhinged

Suggests a loss of emotional stability or rationality.

develop a psychosis

Clinical term that denotes the development of a mental disorder.

succumb to lunacy

Archaic term that means to become mentally ill.

become unstable

Focuses on the lack of mental stability.

deteriorate mentally

Emphasizes the decline of mental faculties.

suffer mental collapse

Implies a breakdown of mental health.

FAQs

How to use "become deranged" in a sentence?

You can use "become deranged" to describe a character's mental state in literature or film, such as: "After weeks of isolation, the protagonist began to "become deranged"." It can also be used to describe a more general phenomenon, such as: "Tumor microenvironment "becomes deranged" with increased hypoxia."

What can I say instead of "become deranged"?

You can use alternatives like "lose one's mind", "go insane", or "snap" depending on the context.

Is "become deranged" a formal or informal expression?

"Become deranged" is a relatively formal expression, suitable for use in news articles, scientific papers, and literary contexts. More informal alternatives include "lose it" or "go crazy".

What's the difference between "become deranged" and "become eccentric"?

"Become deranged" implies a loss of mental stability and rationality, potentially due to a psychological disorder. "Become eccentric", on the other hand, suggests adopting unusual or unconventional behaviors, but without necessarily indicating mental illness.