PsychologyAugust 19, 2026
destabilized
dee-STAY-buh-lyzd
Definition
To lose stability or be shaken from a state of emotional balance, composure, or security.
Etymology
Derived from the prefix 'de-' (reversal or removal) added to 'stable,' which comes from the Latin 'stabilis' meaning firm or steady. It entered English to describe the act of causing something or someone to become unsteady.
In the news
In the article, parents facing their own personal grief may become too destabilized by an ending to provide the necessary support and comfort to their children.
Endings Can Be Unbearable to Renewing
Read the full article ↗Psychology Today