1
as in unravels
to separate the various strands of
gently untangled the baby's hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frees
to set free from entanglement or difficulty
I was finally able to untangle myself from my credit problems
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of untangles
The film, without proving didactic, untangles the complications of finding appropriate care for someone with her cognitive disabilities, as Emily and Bob struggle with a healthcare system that isn’t set up to support people like her.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untangles
Verb
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When the footage from a celebrated 1996 first-contact expedition in the Amazon resurfaces decades later, a triumphant story of discovery unravels into a reckoning with colonialism, documentary ethics, and the lasting impact on the Korubo people.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
Coherence unravels strange events and disturbing moments that are sure to thrill.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Verb
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This frees the programmer from having to manually track and release unused memory.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
His comfort in deeper areas, in turn, frees up Casemiro and Fernandes to operate in more advanced areas ahead of him.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Where Beyoncé added poetic interludes between songs, in Songs from the Hole, the audience learns about Jacobs' story and how his music spiritually liberates him while simultaneously being among the reasons officials cited for not granting him parole.—
Kara Frame,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
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Nuclear fusion, like in the Sun, liberates 630 trillion joules for each kilogram of hydrogen fuel.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Each resident who converts to online payment saves the county hundreds of dollars in operational costs and increases investment returns.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Since the bulbs are more efficient than their predecessors, the overhaul reduces annual carbon emissions by 67,000 metric tons and saves roughly $10 million in energy each year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Verb
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With a daintiness at odds with its 120 kilos, the bear extricates its wrist from the tie and calmly takes its leave.—
Ganesh Marín,
The Dial,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Untangles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untangles. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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