as in to free
to set free from entanglement or difficulty still struggling to disembarrass herself of the emotional baggage of a failed relationship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disembarrass differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disembarrass are disencumber, disentangle, extricate, and untangle. While all these words mean "to free from what binds or holds back," disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

When might disencumber be a better fit than disembarrass?

In some situations, the words disencumber and disembarrass are roughly equivalent. However, disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down.

an article disencumbered of jargon

How do disentangle and untangle relate to one another, in the sense of disembarrass?

Both disentangle and untangle suggest painstaking separation of a thing from other things.

disentangling fact from fiction
untangle a web of deceit

When is it sensible to use extricate instead of disembarrass?

The words extricate and disembarrass are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

extricated himself from financial difficulties

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disembarrass
Verb
  • Of the survivors, Superman works with Raven to find Constantine and help locate Robin, who’s on a quest to free Batman from slavery.
    Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
  • His fellow firefighters, including Gallagher —who was injured during the rescue — used extra manpower and tools to free him before he was stabilized at the scene and flown by CareFlite to the hospital, the department said.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The two wanted the Power of Veto winner to use the ability to keep Panaro, but instead, the winner saved themselves.
    Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • For engineers and designers, this framework is like giving a GPS map through the complex terrain of foam design—saving months of trial-and-error testing.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Others – like Boris – are liberated by it.
    David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Ozon diverges from the text in a few key places to offer a postcolonial reading of a novel that was published two decades before Algeria liberated itself from French rule.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When redeeming the free cone at any Graeter's location, customers can make a donation directly to The Cure Starts Now.
    Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Click here and redeem your preferred reward by betting on one of tonight's MLB games or an upcoming Week 1 NFL matchup.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rotert says one person had to be extricated from the vehicle.
    Fox19 staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Something did not feel right on Thursday so McCaffrey extricated himself from team drills.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Disembarrass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disembarrass. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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