untangles; untangled; untangling
: to separate (things that are twisted together)
He untangled the ropes.
: to remove the twists or knots in (something)
She carefully untangled the child's hair.
He untangled the garden hose.
—often used figurativelyShe untangled [=solved] the mystery.
They're still trying to untangle the financial mess that they've gotten themselves into.
Cite this Entry
“Untangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/untangle. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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