untangle

verb

un·​tan·​gle ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce untangle (audio)
untangled; untangling; untangles

transitive verb

: to loose from tangles or entanglement : straighten out
untangle a knot
untangle a mystery
Choose the Right Synonym for untangle

extricate, disentangle, untangle, disencumber, disembarrass 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

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

disentangling fact from fiction
untangle a web of deceit

disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down.

an article disencumbered of jargon

disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

Examples of untangle in a Sentence

She carefully untangled the child's hair. He untangled the garden hose.
Recent Examples on the Web Read: Always the sidekick There is a lot of history to untangle, after all. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 The movies all showcase mothers and sons; many of them seek to untangle relationships knotted and gnarled by neediness, selfishness or cruelty. Mark Harris Keita Morimoto, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 This might have prompted passersby to untangle the whale, which ended up doing more harm than good. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Feb. 2024 In the United States, following these practices will not untangle the enigma of how to cover the 2024 Trump campaign and its efforts to stoke divisions. Joel Simon, The New Yorker, 12 Feb. 2024 The stateside effort to untangle a plot to persuade then-Vice President Mike Pence to accept slates of false electors for Trump and overturn President Joe Biden’s legitimate election victory has not yet resulted in charges. Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2024 The mania to solve the complexities of life, or to untangle braided identities, is likely misplaced, the wise Sabi would probably counsel me. The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024 And who can be held liable for those unlawful acts is a difficult question to untangle, Sykes said. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024 What could have been a spectacular event ended up being an embarrassing hodgepodge of cheesy special effects, head-scratching cameos from the cast of the BBC soap EastEnders, and a complicated plot even George R. R. Martin couldn't untangle. Adam Lujan, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'untangle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of untangle was in 1550

Dictionary Entries Near untangle

Cite this Entry

“Untangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untangle. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

untangle

verb
un·​tan·​gle ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce untangle (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to remove a tangle from : disentangle
untangle a knot
2
: to straighten out : resolve
untangle a mystery

More from Merriam-Webster on untangle

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