as in disengaging
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1
as in removing
to take (something) away from or off of something else to which it is joined
Detach the lower portion of the invoice and send it back with your payment.
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2
as in withdrawing
to avoid engaging with or participating in something
They were reticent people, completely detached from social life.
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Recent Examples of detaching
Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
An issue with a solid rocket booster motor detaching during launch on the second flight, though, delayed that certification until March 2025.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
The recall comes six months after Tesla and the NHTSA recalled roughly 46,000 Cybertrucks that were at risk of a trim panel detaching.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
As of October 23, the company had received 158 reports of the curling iron barrel detaching, including six minor burn injuries.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Waldorf’s placenta was having trouble detaching.
—Kavitha Surana, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Waldorf’s placenta was having trouble detaching.
—Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 26 May 2026
The injuries were reportedly caused by the swing seat detaching from the swing frame.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
The potential supercycle is detaching the chipmaking sector from the rest of the market.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 11 May 2026
There have been reports of the zipper slider detaching while in use in the United Kingdom.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
At the time of reporting, the company had received at least 68 reports of the wire bristles detaching from the brush.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
There have been at least 15 reports of the zipper head detaching from the garment, the CPSC said Thursday, but no injuries have been reported.
—Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
There have been at least 38 reports of and reviews mentioning the bristle detaching from the brushes, Weber said, and four reports of people who swallowed the metal bristles and sough medical treatment to remove them from their throat or digestive tract.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
An issue with a solid rocket booster motor detaching during launch on the second flight, though, delayed that certification until March 2025.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
The recall comes six months after Tesla and the NHTSA recalled roughly 46,000 Cybertrucks that were at risk of a trim panel detaching.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
As of October 23, the company had received 158 reports of the curling iron barrel detaching, including six minor burn injuries.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Visual effects company Weta created the effect of Vecna’s head detaching from his body.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Waldorf’s placenta was having trouble detaching.
—Kavitha Surana, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Waldorf’s placenta was having trouble detaching.
—Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 26 May 2026
The injuries were reportedly caused by the swing seat detaching from the swing frame.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
The potential supercycle is detaching the chipmaking sector from the rest of the market.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 11 May 2026
There have been reports of the zipper slider detaching while in use in the United Kingdom.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
At the time of reporting, the company had received at least 68 reports of the wire bristles detaching from the brush.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
There have been at least 15 reports of the zipper head detaching from the garment, the CPSC said Thursday, but no injuries have been reported.
—Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detaching
Verb
-
This is done by cutting back the growing tip of the trunk (called the central leader) during the first winter after planting and selectively removing side branches.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
-
Some gardeners control the infestation by cutting the plants back or even removing them.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Now that more and more users are disengaging and often leaving those platforms entirely, the AI bots are moving in, often at the instigation of the social media platforms themselves.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
-
That can look like changing the subject, making a joke, or disengaging altogether when things start to feel more serious.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On parting, Danny gives Rick a fine old acoustic guitar and asks him to stay in touch.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
That would be especially helpful given that Newsom, as a parting gesture, wants to all but eliminate the elective office of state superintendent of public instruction and vest nearly all education oversight in the governor’s office.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The security perimeter kept demonstrators at a distance from the facility, with barricades and checkpoints separating roughly 100 protesters from the detention center.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
-
Historical memory is hugely helpful in separating false promises from sincere innovation, and that should make living legends ideal for steadying progress.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Carlos Alcaraz isn’t in the tournament after withdrawing because of a wrist injury.—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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Depending on the circumstances, you may be restricted from withdrawing funds, making purchases with your debit card, transferring money or paying bills.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Today, there’s a clear line of separation in prestige between a CFP appearance and a bowl invitation.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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Across the tri-service medical corps, encompassing the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the rate of recruitment has consistently struggled to keep pace with separations.—
Robert Krasner,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The encounter, captured on video, quickly gained international attention, dividing those who believed the zoo was in the right to kill Harambe for the child's safety, and others who found the act inhumane.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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By 1997, Ultimate Fighting began to join more conventional combat sports in dividing fighters into weight classes, for safety’s sake.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The fundamental goal of the 1787 Constitution was to establish a republican form of government — and that meant disentangling the traditional powers of the monarch and placing them in different branches of government.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Embedded in a patriarchal family within an oppressive society, Mrie faces the challenge of disentangling herself from both.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detaching. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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