1
as in unraveling
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 freeing
to set free from entanglement or difficulty
I was finally able to untangle myself from my credit problems
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of untangling
So when a diabetic patient develops gastroparesis, untangling whether the drug or the disease is responsible is genuinely difficult.
—
Ryan Brennan
june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Navy excels at untangling human emotions and picking through them without being didactic or moralistic.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
Because family court dockets are heavily backlogged, critics say a guardian’s recommendation often becomes the final word, despite the grueling and complex nature of the disputes they are tasked with untangling.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The Seattle Mariners were an out away from untangling a messy fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2026
Make untangling tomato stems from their cage at the end of the growing season by allowing the plant to die and dry in place.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Mosquitoes really do play favorites — and the reasons reveal a fascinating tangle of genetics, body chemistry and evolutionary tracking that scientists are still untangling.
—Ryan Brennan
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Caoodkdk Cable Organizer Instead of spending time untangling your chargers, use this organizer that will neatly store your cords and small devices in one place.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
While staff were momentarily stunned by the sheer volume of the steal, the suspect took advantage of the distraction, untangling himself from the struggle and bolting for the exit before police could arrive.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Ryan Brennan
june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Navy excels at untangling human emotions and picking through them without being didactic or moralistic.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
Because family court dockets are heavily backlogged, critics say a guardian’s recommendation often becomes the final word, despite the grueling and complex nature of the disputes they are tasked with untangling.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The Seattle Mariners were an out away from untangling a messy fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2026
Make untangling tomato stems from their cage at the end of the growing season by allowing the plant to die and dry in place.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
Mosquitoes really do play favorites — and the reasons reveal a fascinating tangle of genetics, body chemistry and evolutionary tracking that scientists are still untangling.
—Ryan Brennan
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Caoodkdk Cable Organizer Instead of spending time untangling your chargers, use this organizer that will neatly store your cords and small devices in one place.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
While staff were momentarily stunned by the sheer volume of the steal, the suspect took advantage of the distraction, untangling himself from the struggle and bolting for the exit before police could arrive.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untangling
Verb
-
Now an obvious fix passed by Congress last year is at risk of unraveling because of partisan horse trading.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
6 June 2026
-
Progress that once seemed irreversible is now unraveling.—
Christina Ray Stanton,
Time,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The generation that rode cheap college, rising home prices, and the 401(k) revolution into late career was expected to bow out gracefully, freeing up houses and jobs for their kids and grandkids.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
-
Letting go of control to obtain a vision or fantasy and falling down the rabbit hole is freeing and dreamy — but only for the right person.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
That’s when Patriots goalkeeper Mamie Kosicki shined, saving multiple high-quality chances to hold the score.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
-
In a statement issued on June 10, Svelta Plastic Surgery maintained that advanced life-saving measures were already underway before firefighters arrived.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The fundamental goal of the 1787 Constitution was to establish a republican form of government — and that meant disentangling the traditional powers of the monarch and placing them in different branches of government.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Embedded in a patriarchal family within an oppressive society, Mrie faces the challenge of disentangling herself from both.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But when specifically asked whether any Americans have been exposed to Ebola, and whether the government is planning on extricating them from the DRC, the CDC’s incident manager, Satish Pillai, did not answer the questions.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
17 May 2026
-
Part of the experiment involves Mesler willingly extricating himself from Kordansky’s gallery roster.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Secretary Hegseth seemed in his remarks to link immigration to the legacy of the D-Day landings by Allied forces who were liberating Europe from the Nazis.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
Georgacopoulos has made a career out of liberating pearls from their classical, somewhat staid image.—
Kate Matthams,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Untangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untangling. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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