Definition of disentanglenext

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 Veterinarians then assessed whether Meatloaf could be safely disentangled in the water or needed to be brought in for further care, Jaros said. Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 Provocative journalist and interviewer of the powerful There were those for whom art could not be disentangled from life, whose creations, often read as confessions, were intrinsically connected to their identities. Amisha Padnani, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 At this point, with a majority of voters opposed to Trump’s interventions, congressional action is the only way to disentangle the country from these conflicts. Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026 The fundamental goal of the 1787 Constitution was to establish a republican form of government — and that meant disentangling the traditional powers of the monarch and placing them in different branches of government. David French, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disentangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disentangle
Verb
  • Heard and Depp married in February 2015, but their relationship quickly unraveled.
    Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Even the most careful budgetary calculations can unravel when a pet needs unexpected veterinary care.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Crews stabilized the pickup before performing a technical extrication to free the driver.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • The flywheel does not need to be replaced every 3-5 years and can be installed outdoors, freeing up more space and cash for compute.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • When the United States invaded the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, Twain naively imagined that the country would be liberated and turned into a republic.
    Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Automation that was meant to liberate becomes a maze of fragile scripts and blame-shifting alerts.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The sheriff's office says that deputies and workers extricated the man and attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead after being mechanically extricated from the wreckage, records show.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • The latest twist comes as Dakar seeks to untangle itself from a debt crisis that has plagued its economy since 2024, when the government uncovered billions of dollars in undisclosed loans, forcing the IMF to suspend lending.
    Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
  • But Charter already has more debt coming in line for its Cox takeover, and the regulatory process for Comcast would be a nightmare to untangle (at the state level, if not the federal level), so maybe the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • There’s a bunch of new things across most of the 2026 range, mainly cosmetic, but also hardware and weight-saving stuff as well.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • The measure could incentivize lawmakers to save more money because funds tucked away in the rainy day fund would no longer be considered expenditures counted toward the spending limit.
    Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Employees quickly disengage when content remains static or outdated, making ongoing governance and content stewardship essential to sustaining adoption and value.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Far from being disengaged from the city’s fiscal challenges, residents demonstrated a clear understanding of the seriousness of this issue to the future of Chicago.
    Karen Freeman-Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • On Saturday, July 4, Rita's will mark Independence Day and America's 250th birthday by offering a free Small 4th of Gelati to the first 250 Rita's Ice app users who redeem the promo code USA250 in the app, according to the company.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Addams and Bourne anticipate the dynamic patriotism of the civil rights movement and the quest to redeem (rather than merely recover) the soul of America.
    Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disentangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disentangle. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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