extricate

verb

ex·​tri·​cate ˈek-strə-ˌkāt 

extricated; extricating

transitive verb

1

: to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty

2

a

: to distinguish from a related thing

b

archaic : unravel

extricable

ik-ˈstri-kə-bəl 

ek-ˈstri-

ˈek-(ˌ)stri- 

adjective

extrication

ˌek-strə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Extricate is used for the act of freeing someone or something from a tangled situation. Its spelling and meaning comes from Latin extricatus, which combines the prefix ex- ("out of") with the noun tricae, meaning "trifles or perplexities." The resemblance of tricae to trick is no illusion—it's an ancestor.

Synonyms

• clear
• disembarrass
• disengage
• disentangle
• free
• liberate
• release
• untangle

Choose the Right Synonym for extricate

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

Examples of extricate in a Sentence

Several survivors were extricated from the wreckage.

They extricated the tractor from the mud.

She hasn't been able to extricate herself from her legal problems.

Recent Examples on the Web

One day after a harrowing rescue attempt, a mountain goat extricated from a precarious perch under a Kansas City bridge Monday evening is alive and well, KC Pet Project said. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024

First responders spent nearly two hours stabilizing the vehicle and extricating the driver, the agency posted on X. The crash was reported near 11327 Cottontail Lane in Douglas County at 11:37 a.m. —Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 2 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin extricatus, past participle of extricare, from ex- + tricae trifles, perplexities

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

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Kids Definition

extricate

verb

ex·​tri·​cate ˈek-strə-ˌkāt 

extricated; extricating

: to free or remove from entanglement or difficulty

extricable

ek-ˈstrik-ə-bəl  ˈek-(ˌ)strik- 

adjective

extrication

ˌek-strə-ˈkā-shən 

noun