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
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
Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2026
In one sense, detaching goal setting from the start of the Gregorian calendar is reasonable—one can, of course, choose to begin afresh at any moment.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Foliage turns yellow and then red, adhering to the plant for several months, before finally detaching to form a leafy mulch below.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
Imagery in the report shows the engine and its pylon detaching and flying up into the air in a ball of fire almost immediately after takeoff.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025
For me, detaching from the male gaze wasn’t about rejecting beauty or fashion, but shifting who holds agency.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2025
Carol is actively detaching from anyone who might be of help to her.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Ford had recalled 175,000 vehicles on Wednesday, owing to moonroof wind deflectors detaching.
—Detroit Free Press, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Emptying the dust cup was simple thanks to clear arrow indicators, although detaching it from the wand first added a small inconvenience.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
This causes the uterine lining to stop thickening and to break down, detaching the embryo.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2026
In one sense, detaching goal setting from the start of the Gregorian calendar is reasonable—one can, of course, choose to begin afresh at any moment.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Foliage turns yellow and then red, adhering to the plant for several months, before finally detaching to form a leafy mulch below.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
Imagery in the report shows the engine and its pylon detaching and flying up into the air in a ball of fire almost immediately after takeoff.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025
For me, detaching from the male gaze wasn’t about rejecting beauty or fashion, but shifting who holds agency.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2025
Carol is actively detaching from anyone who might be of help to her.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Ford had recalled 175,000 vehicles on Wednesday, owing to moonroof wind deflectors detaching.
—Detroit Free Press, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Emptying the dust cup was simple thanks to clear arrow indicators, although detaching it from the wand first added a small inconvenience.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detaching
Verb
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But what specific goals did this Administration have in removing Maduro and taking control?—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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But the season ended with a blowout loss in Seattle last week, removing the dream scenario of the 49ers lifting the Lombardi Trophy on their home field.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The team was so committed to this, in fact, that one member was stranded at a western Pennsylvania rest stop while the others completed a 90-minute detour just to circle back around and pick him up without disengaging FSD.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
22 Jan. 2026
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Some people respond by disengaging quietly.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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After parting ways with longtime stars Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, the Mets seemed to take a harsh step back after missing the playoffs last year.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Cirstea’s parting shot was at the net.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The backpack itself is crafted from a durable, water-resistant, anti-abrasion material, and includes a wet pocket for separating damp items or dirty laundry.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
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This was such a tedious process that Saint Ignatius College Prep had its own recycling club that mainly involved spending Fridays after school sitting on a classroom floor and separating the recyclables the school had generated throughout the week.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Uhlaender accused the Canadian team and its coach, Joe Cecchini, of intentionally withdrawing the athletes, deliberately manipulating the field to benefit one of their own sliders’ bids for qualification.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
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In so doing, avoid withdrawing NATO’s commitment to defend NATO member states’ remote, former (and, in the case of Cyprus, coincidentally insular) colonial territories was thus established as a norm for the alliance, not an exception – one that is newly relevant once again.—
Barry Scott Zellen,
Hartford Courant,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Interestingly, a 2023 study from the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens demonstrates that dolphins can remember others’ signature whistles even after long periods of separation.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Nelsen told the jury Debe was still worried about Bob after their separation.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the sector transitions from the initial brute-force stage of training large models to the challenge of running them affordably and efficiently on a large scale, designers are dividing into rival factions.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Through the deal, Authentic is dividing Guess’s IP and operations, with Authentic owning 51% of the IP.—
Hilary Milnes,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Our narrator, a gay, happily married father of two disentangling himself from a poly love affair, is—depending on the light—brilliant, self-mythologizing, abject, hopeful, and vulnerable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
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Brittany Luse is joined by writer and journalist Ana Marie Cox to get into how people are disentangling alcohol from their lives, and the lessons she's learned as a recovering alcoholic.—
Veralyn Williams,
NPR,
6 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detaching. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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