as in to liberate
to set free from entanglement or difficulty you've woven such a web of lies that it's hard to see how you can extricate yourself now

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb extricate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of extricate are disembarrass, disencumber, disentangle, and untangle. While all these words mean "to free from what binds or holds back," extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

extricated himself from financial difficulties

When might disembarrass be a better fit than extricate?

The meanings of disembarrass and extricate largely overlap; however, disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

When could disencumber be used to replace extricate?

Although the words disencumber and extricate have much in common, disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down.

an article disencumbered of jargon

How are the words disentangle and untangle related as synonyms of extricate?

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

disentangling fact from fiction
untangle a web of deceit

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 extricate The operator of the vehicle, a juvenile from New Haven, had to be extricated by fire crews and was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was listed in critical condition, according to police. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2025 The driver was then extricated at 6:17 and transported to a nearby hospital at 6:30. Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024 News Studios staff in the UK have been told their jobs are at risk after Piers Morgan unveiled his plan to extricate himself from the Rupert Murdoch business. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025 After an amazing back-and-forth (DeVito and William Standford Davis were great at playing off each other), Gregory extricates himself from the problem, leaving the two unhinged men to figure it out between themselves. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for extricate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extricate
Verb
  • Outie Mark loves Gemma, and wants to liberate her from whatever captivity Lumon has placed her in, but Innie Mark’s feelings for Helly continue to bloom.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Ukraine liberated the city in November of that year.
    Brian Mann, NPR, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After Carter was freed, a man who'd taken the then-12 year old under his wing tried to help the boy reunite with his mother.
    Amber Hunt, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The Chiefs will have to slide a lot of protections toward Carter, which should free up Williams.
    Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In 2017, there was a collaborative effort between Mexico and the United States to save vaquitas and place them in a pen under human care.
    Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The Apple iPad mini (2024) is now available for just $399 (saving you a cool hundred bucks).
    Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • And yet a joint biography is the only kind that feels appropriate; posthumously disentangling one brother from the other seems tantamount to desecrating a corpse, for Jacob and Wilhelm were ardently inseparable.
    Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Most of the Bills players disengaged from their blocks and began walking, assuming the play was over.
    Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Hot To Handle, said this is becoming trickier as young viewers disengage from traditional TV.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This path offers the opportunity to redeem themselves and potentially reclaim a position of leadership.
    David Moon (Junseo Moon), Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Check it out as the website also has codes players can use to redeem helpful in-game items.
    Ash Parrish, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Disaster struck when a team of firefighters trying to rescue two comrades trapped in the building were themselves imperiled by a collapsing wall.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Two people from the boat washed up on Little Rock Jetty just to the north of the incident and were rescued by lifeguards, Romero said.
    Gary Warth, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The 12-team Playoff’s debut has raised several talking points to untangle.
    Sam Khan Jr., The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
  • To help untangle this mystery, in 2022 the World Wildlife Fund launched an initiative called ShellBank, which aims to use genetic analysis to trace sea turtle products to their points of origin.
    Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Extricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extricate. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

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