Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disentangle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disentangle are disembarrass, disencumber, extricate, and untangle. While all these words mean "to free from what binds or holds back," disentangle and untangle suggest painstaking separation of a thing from other things.

disentangling fact from fiction
untangle a web of deceit

When might disembarrass be a better fit than disentangle?

Although the words disembarrass and disentangle have much in common, disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

When can disencumber be used instead of disentangle?

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

an article disencumbered of jargon

In what contexts can extricate take the place of disentangle?

The synonyms extricate and disentangle are sometimes interchangeable, but extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

extricated himself from financial difficulties

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 disentangle 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, 8 Sep. 2025 As my colleague Jeremy Kahn said in Tuesday’s Eye on AI, none of these studies disentangle the effects of AI from the possible effects of the unwinding of the tech hiring boom that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2025 Making use of twin studies, researchers are able to disentangle the impact of genetics from the environment. Philip Salter, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025 The calf was swimming with its mother, trailing fishing gear after workers were able to partially disentangle it. Jennifer Rodriguez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for disentangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disentangle
Verb
  • Shortly afterward, things began to unravel.
    Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense unraveled behind a slew of three-and-outs and unforced errors, including two Rodgers interceptions (one of which was his fault, the other bounced off Calvin Austin III’s hands) and a sack for a safety.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • If confirmed by future research, the approach could provide a powerful new weapon to fight heart disease, the nation's leading killer, freeing people from the need to take statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs every day.
    NPR, NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
  • No-kill is about giving every pet in a shelter a fair chance and proving that with the right policies and practices in place, managing animal shelters doesn’t require killing dogs and cats simply to free up space.
    Scott Giacoppo, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Lawrence is liberated from anything resembling propriety or self-consciousness here.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Owen predicted the coming of a new order that would liberate Americans from their plight.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Due to the severity of the damage, one person had to be extricated while the other person managed to remove themselves on their own, Albuquerque Fire and Rescue said.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The two occupants of the truck that hit Engine 14 were trapped and firefighters on the scene extricated them, officials said.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The procedural stories are simple whodunnits with a New York twist—Murder on Broadway has Hizzoner untangling the on-stage shooting at the closing of a long-running musical, for example.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The Netflix series has plenty of narrative threads to untangle in a potential third season.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Our clean energy and wildfire prevention efforts are saving billions—both in disaster costs and everyday bills.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • My father had two superpowers that saved him in the face of all those failures—his talent for telling stories and gardening.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The entrepreneur was seemingly distracted and disengaged to the point where Snoop had to call her attention back.
    Essence, Essence, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Bring it back indoors and vacuum, disengaging the beater bars.
    Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Riders will be able to redeem miles for rides directly through the Lyft app and get alerts and reminders for United flights.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
  • That move, however, allowed the giant exhibitor to fully redeem all of its 2026 debt maturities.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disentangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disentangle. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

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