untangle

verb

un·​tan·​gle ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl 

untangled; untangling; untangles

transitive verb

: to loose from tangles or entanglement : straighten out

untangle a knot

untangle a mystery

Synonyms of untangle

• unravel

Choose the Right Synonym for untangle

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 untangle in a Sentence

She carefully untangled the child's hair.

He untangled the garden hose.

Recent Examples on the Web

The layers of deception and betrayal will feel deeply familiar to anyone who spent three seasons untangling Stephen’s lies. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026

While Wexner may have sought to cut all ties, authorities were still trying to untangle the nature of his long relationship with Epstein. —Curt Devine, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026

At the end of Manchester City’s 2-1 recent win against Liverpool, as officials gradually untangled the bizarre late incident involving Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai, Neville informed viewers how close the game was to full time. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Gerima continued to explain that untangling film production from its violent colonial past was a constant battle. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for untangle

• angle
• bangle
• dangle
• jangle
• mangle
• strangle
• tangle
• wrangle
• disentangle
• entangle
• quadrangle
• triangle

Kids Definition

untangle

verb

un·​tan·​gle ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl 

ˈən-

1

: to remove a tangle from : disentangle

untangle a knot

2

: to straighten out : resolve

untangle a mystery