disentangle

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

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

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Examples: disentangle in a Sentence

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

Johnston has been using his lunch breaks from a job at a calling center to look for an attorney to help him disentangle from the criminal charges from the arrest on Michigan Avenue.

— maya dukmasova, Chicago Reader, "News / Politics / Transportation Singer welcomed by America's Got Talent—but not the CTA," 12 June 2018
Each of FLCL’s six episodes are so packed with details, rapid-fire jokes and animation shifts that the show practically demands repeat viewings to disentangle the story from the noise.

— stephen scaife, The Verge, "Cult favorite anime FLCL is back with new episodes — but 15 years later, the original still shines," 2 June 2018
Yeganeh agrees that the role of the programmer can never be fully disentangled from the product.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "Can an algorithm be art?," 7 May 2018
Dethroning the mullahs would likely involve waging war against Iran, a prospect at odds with his own stated desire to withdraw from Syria and disentangle the United States from a generation of costly conflicts in the Middle East.

— ishaan tharoor, Washington Post, "Is regime change in Iran part of Trump’s agenda?," 7 May 2018
Other drivers can easily cut you off while trying to pass on the inside, and then the staff push a magic button that slows everyone’s go-carts down in order to disentangle the little road rage incidents.

— richard tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Norwegian Bliss carves up unique space in the cruise ship crowd," 11 May 2018
But the administration has provided several months for U.S. and foreign companies and banks to disentangle existing ties with the country.

— ian talley, WSJ, "How Iran Sanctions Affect Countries and Businesses," 8 May 2018
Facebook has rewired people’s lives, routing them through its servers, and to disentangle would require major sacrifice.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "Even Amid Scandal, Facebook Is Unstoppable," 1 May 2018
Observers have described hearing volcanic thunder in the past, but scientists have been unable to disentangle the booms of thunder caused by volcanic lightning from the cacophony of bellows and blasts that accompany an explosive eruption.

— author: jim paulin, Anchorage Daily News, "Bogoslof volcano makes audio history," 2 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

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disentangle Synonyms

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.