extricate

verb

ex·​tri·​cate ˈek-strə-ˌkāt 

extricated; extricating

transitive verb

1

: to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty

2

a

: to distinguish from a related thing

b

archaic : unravel

extricable

ik-ˈstri-kə-bəl 

ek-ˈstri-

ˈek-(ˌ)stri- 

adjective

extrication

ˌek-strə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Oh what a tangled web the English language weaves. Extricate, for example, may remind you of extract, another word applied when something is removed, but we can tease them apart. Although extricate and extract resemble each other, to extract something is to remove it using methods that often involve physical force, as in “the dentist had to extract my tooth.” Extricate, on the other hand, is more often used for the act of freeing someone or something from a difficult or tangled situation, which can, but need not, involve literal yanking or pulling. Extricating yourself from an awkward conversation, after all, can be as simple as announcing “I need to take this call!” and shuffling off with phone to ear. Extricate comes from the Latin verb extricare, which combines the prefix ex- (“out of”) with the noun tricae, meaning “trifles or perplexities.”

Synonyms

• clear
• disembarrass
• disengage
• disentangle
• free
• liberate
• release
• untangle

Choose the Right Synonym for extricate

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 extricate in a Sentence

Several survivors were extricated from the wreckage.

They extricated the tractor from the mud.

She hasn't been able to extricate herself from her legal problems.

Recent Examples on the Web

The driver of the Toyota Tacoma, whose vehicle rolled and landed in eastbound traffic lanes, was also extricated and taken to a hospital in critical condition. —Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024

That elicited a response from Miller, who jumped Marchand to defend Hughes, only to eat a few gloved sucker punches after Marchand somehow extricated himself from the pile. —Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024

The fire department's director of media relations, Corey McIsaac, told the Free Press on Tuesday that crews extricated the employee from the machine before transporting him to an area hospital for treatment. —Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2024

One person was injured and had to be extricated from their vehicle following a rollover crash in Shelton on Sunday. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin extricatus, past participle of extricare, from ex- + tricae trifles, perplexities

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

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Kids Definition

extricate

verb

ex·​tri·​cate ˈek-strə-ˌkāt 

extricated; extricating

: to free or remove from entanglement or difficulty

extricable

ek-ˈstrik-ə-bəl  ˈek-(ˌ)strik- 

adjective

extrication

ˌek-strə-ˈkā-shən 

noun