Synonyms of disentangle

disentangle

verb

ˌdis-in-ˈtaŋ-gəl 

1

as in to unravel

to separate the various strands of

it took forever to disentangle the knot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unravel
• untangle
• unsnarl
• untwist
• unweave
• untwine
• ravel (out)
• fray
• unbraid
• undo
• unlay
• untie
• smooth
• straighten (out)
• unwind
• unroll
• uncoil
• unlace
• unknot
• fret
• unthread
• unstring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• entangle
• snarl
• tie
• knot
• tangle
• wind
• ply
• braid
• splice
• lace
• plait

2

as in to free

to set free from entanglement or difficulty

the years that it took to disentangle ourselves from our troubles after someone started using our social security numbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• free
• liberate
• extricate
• untangle
• save
• disengage
• redeem
• rescue
• cut loose
• release
• clear
• disembarrass
• deliver
• unravel
• unburden
• untie
• disencumber
• unsnarl
• disburden
• untwine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• hamper
• entangle
• embroil
• block
• burden
• weigh
• load
• encumber

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

Examples of disentangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Boiling causes protein molecules in the egg to twist around one another, and a centrifuge can disentangle them to restore the original. —George Musser, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2022

Steam's market position, recommendation whims, and broad 30 percent revenue cut have left many companies searching for ways to disentangle their futures from a single platform. —Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 3 May 2024

And any movement toward disentangling ourselves from each other, all these aspects of each other, is wreckage. —Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 14 June 2024

By the same token, the costs of failing to disentangle would also be far greater. —Rush Doshi, Foreign Affairs, 30 May 2024