unglue

Remove the adhesive

To unglue is to separate things that have been glued together, or to cause adhesive to release: I carefully unglued the old photograph from the album page.

Figuratively, to come unglued is to lose emotional composure or fall apart: She came completely unglued when she heard the news.

detach

unstick

Free from adhesion

releaseTo let go
loosenReduce tension or grip
freeWithout payment or restriction

separate · remove · peel · lift · disengage · unfasten · disconnect · disentangle · extricate · part

emotional

release

To let go

let goCease holding something
detachTo separate from
disengageBreak free from attachment

move on · separate · distance · unbind · disentangle · extricate · break free · unstick · overcome · process

mechanical

peel

Outer fruit layer

scrapeRub harshly against
pryLever or snoop
chiselEdged carving implement

razor · spatula · heat gun · soak · sand · abrade · slice · cut · lever · wedge

dissolve

solvent

Dissolving liquid or financially stable

softenMake less firm
meltChange from solid
liquefyConvert to liquid state

break down · disintegrate · weaken · dilute · soak · moisten · warm · steam · acetone · alcohol

Opposites

adhesion/bonding action

unglueglue

Bonding substance

adhere · bond · stick · attach · affix

emotional composure (figurative sense)

ungluehold together

Remain unified, not fragment

keep it together · pull oneself together · stay calm · collect oneself

emotional composure

ungluecompose

Create or arrange

steady · calm · center · ground · stabilize

Phrases

coming unglued
come ungluedLose emotional stability

Family

unglued, unglues, ungluing, unglueing

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G