untangle

verb

un·​tan·​gle ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl 

untangled; untangling; untangles

transitive verb

: to loose from tangles or entanglement : straighten out

untangle a knot

untangle a mystery

Synonyms

• disentangle
• ravel (out)
• unbraid
• unlay
• unravel
• unsnarl
• untwine
• untwist
• unweave

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

The 12-team Playoff’s debut has raised several talking points to untangle. —Sam Khan Jr., The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

To help untangle this mystery, in 2022 the World Wildlife Fund launched an initiative called ShellBank, which aims to use genetic analysis to trace sea turtle products to their points of origin. —Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024

How Turkey became the world capital of hair transplants Trying to figure out why Turkey has become such a force in hair transplants is a bit like trying to untangle a chicken or the egg scenario, or in this case: What came first, Turkey or the transplant? —Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 18 Dec. 2024

One of the first things Trump can do in office is secure the border and begin to untangle our messy immigration process. —Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

untangle

verb

un·​tan·​gle ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl 

ˈən-

1

: to remove a tangle from : disentangle

untangle a knot

2

: to straighten out : resolve

untangle a mystery