Abstract. The paper provides some theorems on complete instability of zero solution relative to a set for nonautonomous nonlinear equations with delay. The right-hand side of the equation is assumed to satisfy conditions, which provide standard existenceuniqueness-continuous dependence-continuation theory for the equation, as well as precompactness of the collection of translations in time of the right-hand side in a functional space with a metrizable compact open topology. These assumptions allow constructing limiting equations. Using conceptions of Lyapunov-Razumikhin functions and limiting equations, new instability results are obtained, which are applicable, in particular, to autonomous and periodic delayed di¤erential equations and generalize some known results.