Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disentangle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disentangle are disembarrass, disencumber, extricate, and untangle. While all these words mean "to free from what binds or holds back," disentangle and untangle suggest painstaking separation of a thing from other things.

disentangling fact from fiction
untangle a web of deceit

When might disembarrass be a better fit than disentangle?

Although the words disembarrass and disentangle have much in common, disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

When can disencumber be used instead of disentangle?

In some situations, the words disencumber and disentangle are roughly equivalent. However, disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down.

an article disencumbered of jargon

In what contexts can extricate take the place of disentangle?

The synonyms extricate and disentangle are sometimes interchangeable, but extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

extricated himself from financial difficulties

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disentangle During his first term, Trump and his team began an effort to disentangle the U.S. and allied economies from China. Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025 Ukraine is now trying to disentangle itself from Telegram. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, The Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2025 Brittany Luse is joined by writer and journalist Ana Marie Cox to get into how people are disentangling alcohol from their lives, and the lessons she's learned as a recovering alcoholic. Veralyn Williams, NPR, 6 Jan. 2025 And yet a joint biography is the only kind that feels appropriate; posthumously disentangling one brother from the other seems tantamount to desecrating a corpse, for Jacob and Wilhelm were ardently inseparable. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for disentangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disentangle
Verb
  • Though the part is small, Hildy and her community are pivotal to unraveling the propaganda that has shaped this future dystopia, where people’s thoughts are heard aloud and an egomaniacal would-be dictator, played with gusto by Mads Mikkelsen, uses this vulnerability to control them.
    Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Melanie does that beautifully, unraveling through rage.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The Dolphins’ two options would be releasing him (which wouldn’t free up significant cap space until after June 1) or keeping him but with terms of the contract adjusted to save Miami money and cap space.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The inmates took over, killing guards and freeing everyone; Trent helped himself to a dead guard’s uniform, radio and weapon (as well as the knife sticking out of his chest), and used it to pose as a law-enforcement official helping manage the chaos as people flocked to Paradise in their cars.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That was really liberating at the time for women and looked scary to men.
    A Martínez, NPR, 7 Mar. 2025
  • This might fly in the face of everything a business leader has been taught about being an expert, but trust me, the results of this kind of thinking are liberating.
    Christian Davies FCSD, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Wright said an injured woman had to be extricated by crews with the New London Fire Department.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Austen is trying to repair a friendship, and Craig is trying to extricate himself from a business deal and attempt to do it on the cheap.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The film focuses on three sisters: María (Marta Méndez Cross), Lucía (Valeria Maldonado) and Sofía (Virginia Novello), who try to untangle their complex relationship — and years of estrangement —while toggling between their Americanized life in the U.S. and their family’s Mexican homeland.
    Arturo Conde, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Our writer untangles a mystery dug up by the turtle counters.
    Kevin Chroust, Outside Online, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • After Technicolor failed to find a buyer and filed for bankruptcy on Feb. 24, TransPerfect negotiated a deal to save the gaming unit.
    Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Students, parents, educators and non-profit groups advocating to save education funding organized across the city Tuesday to protest as President Donald Trump prepared to address a joint session of Congress later in the evening.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Where ardent nationalists were the oldest group, the disengaged were the youngest.
    Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 16 Feb. 2025
  • With 40% of leaders contemplating resignation due to burnout, top talent is either stepping down or disengaging, leaving organizations vulnerable to performance decline and talent gaps.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • This ticket must be redeemed at the Tallahassee main office or one of the Florida Lottery district offices, which are open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
  • So, for example, 100 Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for $100.
    Daniel Wallach, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disentangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disentangle. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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