UNTANGLE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'untangle' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of untangle are disembarrass , disencumber , disentangle , and extricate . 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

Q: When might 'disembarrass' be a better fit than 'untangle'?

The meanings of disembarrass and untangle largely overlap; however, disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders. // disembarrassed herself of her advisers

Q: When can 'disencumber' be used instead of 'untangle'?

The synonyms disencumber and untangle are sometimes interchangeable, but disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down. // an article disencumbered of jargon

Q: When is it sensible to use 'extricate' instead of 'untangle'?

The words extricate and untangle 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

untangle

verb

ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl

Definition of untangle

as in to unravel

to separate the various strands of gently untangled the baby's hair

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disentangle

to set free from entanglement or difficulty I was finally able to untangle myself from my credit problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb untangle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of untangle are disembarrass, disencumber, disentangle, and extricate. 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 untangle?

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

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

When can disencumber be used instead of untangle?

The synonyms disencumber and untangle are sometimes interchangeable, but disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down.

an article disencumbered of jargon

When is it sensible to use extricate instead of untangle?

The words extricate and untangle 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

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 untangle Thank god for two thinkers willing to sit and untangle our sorry state of affairs. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 In her new biography of the artist, Jamie Fisher doesn’t so much attempt to untangle the mystery of Smith, but to describe how he was seen by the many people who loved him. — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 To try Cruz’s favorite technique yourself, start by untangling the cables in your desk drawer. — The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026 Without spoiling anything, Annie spends her time on the island untangling her family lore and figuring out what comes next—all in a place where getting around requires a boat. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for untangle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for untangle

Verb

Over the past 25 or so years, this country has unraveled in a lot of ways.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
But when a traumatic encounter sends Tonya spiraling back into addiction—and back into the dangerous orbit of her drug-dealing ex-husband, Ronny (Alexander)—her fragile progress begins to unravel.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of unravel

Verb

Pawlikowski’s mother and father, also named Zula and Wiktor, whose unmanageable love had kept them tangled and disentangled for decades, took their own lives in 1989, as the Cold War that had cast its chill upon their time was beginning to thaw.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
His remarks escalated a confrontation over New York’s efforts to disentangle local police from federal immigration enforcement.

— María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of disentangle

Verb

Google said in its release that its new model is already being used internally to optimize memory at Google’s data centers, freeing up hundreds of terabytes of memory without buying additional hardware.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Larkin has been fairly vocal about his frustrations in the Motor City, and Barkov's $10 million coming off the books could free up the space to make a move for the American center.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of free

Verb

Hospital staff were working to save Pike's life and as of late Thursday were trying to clear the two doses of the drug that the state uses to execute prisoners, her lawyers wrote in a Friday filing in Davidson County Chancery Court.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
California’s plan to save coastal homes from El Niño could end up killing beaches.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of save

Verb

As the United States struggles to extricate itself from the Iran war, longtime regional ally Saudi Arabia is facing a growing Iranian threat of its own.

— Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
The agency said crews also had to extricate a person who was trapped under a vehicle.

— David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of extricate

Verb

The Sun in your sign trines liberating Uranus in your adventurous 9th house, encouraging you to explore a new subject, destination, belief, or direction.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
We were taught by a gruff cockney called Fred Waring, who had participated in the D-Day landings in a regiment that had fought its way across Europe towards Berlin and liberated the concentration camp at Belsen.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of liberate

Verb

One disadvantage is the seven-year holding period for participants to redeem their units.

— Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
To redeem the offer, open the Account section of the Epicurious app and present your active subscription to a Salt & Straw team member in store and sign up for Salt and Straw's (free) loyalty program via their app.

— Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of redeem

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untamed

untangle

untangled

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“Untangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untangle. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of untangle

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