disentangle

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verb dis·en·tan·gle \ ˌdis-in-ˈtaŋ-gəl \

Definition of disentangle

transitive verb

:to free from entanglement :unravel

intransitive verb

:to become disentangled

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disentanglement

play \-mənt\ noun

See disentangle defined for English-language learners

See disentangle defined for kids

Examples of disentangle in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of disentangle from the Web

During a rescue operation to disentangle an Atlantic right whale from a web of fishing gear, seasoned wildlife rescuer Joe Howlett lost his life.

— sarah gibbens, National Geographic, "Fisherman Dies Moments After Saving Entangled Whale," 14 July 2017
The repeal bill is central to the government's plan to exit the EU in 2019, disentangling Britain from more than 40 years of EU lawmaking and repealing the treaty that first made Britain a member in 1972.

— william james and elizabeth piper, The Christian Science Monitor, "British repeal bill severing EU ties faces uphill battle," 13 July 2017
Howlett, 59, was killed Monday trying to disentangle a North Atlantic Right Whale off the coast of New Brunswick, according to a statement from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

— andreas preuss, CNN, "Canadian fisherman killed during whale rescue," 13 July 2017
Chilton County sheriff's deputies say 74-year-old Larry Smitherman was killed while trying to disentangle a garden hose from his bush hog.

— CBS News, "Lawn mower accident kills 74-year-old man," 10 July 2017
But reports that Chinese trade with North Korea is growing hint at the complexities of China's economic ties to North Korea — and just how difficult disentangling those ties might be.

— adam taylor, Washington Post, "The messy data behind China’s growing trade with North Korea," 5 July 2017
The fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry cannot be disentangled in this way from the equal right to the benefits and privileges that come with it.

— dale carpenter, Washington Post, "How wrong was the Texas Supreme Court about equality for married gay couples?," 2 July 2017
The first is what follows from invoking Article 50, which, in practice, is about how to disentangle the U.K. from the EU’s laws and responsibilities.

— iain begg, Fortune, "How the U.K. and EU Can Avoid a Car Crash Divorce," 23 June 2017
Just a dream, $500 from her church’s leaders and a determination to disentangle herself from the violence, poverty and abuse that marred so much of her young life.

— susan kelleher, The Seattle Times, "‘I just knew I had to keep moving’: A Bellevue woman’s journey from teen mom to grad student," 17 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disentangle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of disentangle

1598

disentangle Synonyms

Synonyms

unravel, ravel (out), unbraid, unlay, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist, unweave

Antonyms

entangle, snarl, tangle

Related Words

fray, fret; smooth, straighten (out); uncoil, undo, unknot, unlace, unroll, unstring, unthread, untie, unwind

Near Antonyms

braid, knot, lace, plait, ply, splice, tie, wind

Synonym Discussion of disentangle

extricate, disentangle, untangle, disencumber, disembarrass mean to free from what binds or holds back. extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

- extricated himself from financial difficulties

disentangle and untangle suggest painstaking separation of a thing from other things.

- disentangling fact from fiction
- untangle a web of deceit

disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down.

- an article disencumbered of jargon

disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

- disembarrassed herself of her advisers

DISENTANGLE Defined for English Language Learners

disentangle

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verb

Definition of disentangle for English Language Learners

: to separate (things that are twisted together or caught on one another)
: to remove the twists or knots in (something)

DISENTANGLE Defined for Kids

disentangle

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verb dis·en·tan·gle \ ˌdi-sᵊn-ˈtaŋ-gəl \

Definition of disentangle for Students

disentangled; disentangling

:untangle

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for disentangle Spanish Central: Translation of disentangle Nglish: Translation of disentangle for Spanish speakers

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disentangle

Definition of disentangle

disentanglement

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Examples of disentangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of disentangle from the Web

First Known Use of disentangle

disentangle Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of disentangle

DISENTANGLE Defined for English Language Learners

disentangle

Definition of disentangle for English Language Learners

DISENTANGLE Defined for Kids

disentangle

Definition of disentangle for Students

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