untangle
verb
un·tan·gle
ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl 
untangled; untangling; untangles
: to loose from tangles or entanglement : straighten out
untangle a knot
untangle a mystery
Synonyms
Examples of untangle in a Sentence
She carefully untangled the child's hair.
He untangled the garden hose.
Recent Examples on the Web
As linguists and geneticists continue to untangle the origins of Indo-European languages, one thing is clear—the story of language is one of movement, change and cultural exchange, far from the rigid, nationalist narratives of the past.
—
Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Our writer untangles a mystery dug up by the turtle counters.
—Mark Sundeen, Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2025
Nearly six months later, Mr. Miller’s widow, lawyers, lenders and courts are still untangling an extraordinary financial mess.
—Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Put it this way: Mars retrograde in Leo is like trying to untangle a string of holiday lights, only to realize half of them don’t work.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for untangle 
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Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Our writer untangles a mystery dug up by the turtle counters.
—Mark Sundeen, Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2025
Nearly six months later, Mr. Miller’s widow, lawyers, lenders and courts are still untangling an extraordinary financial mess.
—Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Put it this way: Mars retrograde in Leo is like trying to untangle a string of holiday lights, only to realize half of them don’t work.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for untangle
Dictionary Entries Near untangle
Cite this Entry
“Untangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untangle. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
untangle
verb
un·tan·gle
ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl
ˈən-
1
: to remove a tangle from : disentangle
untangle a knot
2
: to straighten out : resolve
untangle a mystery
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