DETACHING Synonyms: 174 Similar and Opposite Words

detaching 1 of 2

noun

as in disengaging

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detaching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of detach

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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Dissimilar Words

as in withdrawing

to avoid engaging with or participating in something They were reticent people, completely detached from social life.

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of detaching

Noun

The largest recall affects more than 223,000 F-150 pickups due to a risk of the fuel tank detaching. — Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 2026 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

To begin the overhaul, Weigand disassembled the clock on site, carefully detaching the heavy weights and unhooking the pendulum. — La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Woltanski suggests detaching the voucher from the state funding formula entirely. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 There have been four reports of eyes detaching from the teething toy, but no injuries have been reported, federal officials said. — Julia Hawkins, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Orion and the Artemis III crew will stay docked with Starship for about a day before detaching to begin preparations for their return to Earth. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 20 July 2026 Clean the Mouthpiece, Straw, and Lid After detaching the straw, use a straw cleaning brush or a pipe cleaner to thoroughly scrub it with a mild detergent. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026 Shortly after, Waldorf's placenta had trouble detaching. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 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, ProPublica, 26 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detaching

Noun

That’s led to further speculation that Riley and USC could potentially agree to a mutual parting of ways after this season.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Shakir Mukhamadullin is 0-8 goals; Jake Walman’s minutes look like the parting of the Red Sea.

— Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of parting

Verb

This may mean removing an abusive parent as their guardian and establishing another relative or foster parent in place of the parent.

— Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Before the building is sold or used for secular purposes, church officials take great care when removing the religious items inside, said Jacob Preciado, director of asset management for the archdiocese.

— Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of removing

Verb

Nothing about that reaches the employee who is steadily gaining weight, quietly disengaging from exercise or managing chronic stress without any support.

— Neepa Patel, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Vicki disengaging is par for the course at this point — and speaking of par, the women arrive at the country club to practice their golf swings and deliver enough material to fill an episode.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of disengaging

Noun

Several support facilities were also built, including two chemical separation plants.

— Bonny Chu , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
The researchers believe the approach could eventually reduce the need for harsh solvents in lithium separation.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of separation

Verb

Under this concept, armed forces aim to coordinate multiple VICTOR drones into autonomous swarms capable of dividing surveillance, reconnaissance, and transport missions in real time.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
James, always an exacting rhythmic engineer, was now dividing the beat into fragments tiny enough to push at the very edge of rhythm itself.

— Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of dividing

Verb

As joyful crowds took to the streets to celebrate the students' victory on Sunday, some in the crowd stoned the withdrawing police and dismantled a camp used by Vucic loyalists in a park in central Belgrade for more than a year.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Such a move could lead to investors withdrawing billions of dollars of passive investment from the country.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of withdrawing

Verb

For tender rabe that melds seamlessly with pasta and sausage, start by separating the thick stems from the rest of the stalks and giving them a head start before adding the rest.

— Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
It is carried to high speed and altitude by a rocket booster before separating and gliding through the atmosphere toward its target.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of separating

Verb

Cutting Iran off completely from the UAE could deal a serious blow to the Islamic Republic’s economy — but experts say disentangling the pair’s commercial ties could prove difficult.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
New characters and backstory details are dropped in before existing loose ends are tied up, resulting in unclear motivations and convoluted layers of subplot that, ultimately, do not prove relevant enough to have been worth disentangling.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of disentangling

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detaches

detaching

detachment

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Style

“Detaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detaching. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of detaching

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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