DISENTANGLE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'disentangle' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disentangle are disembarrass , disencumber , extricate , and untangle . While all these words mean "to free from what binds or holds back," disentangle and untangle suggest painstaking separation of a thing from other things. // disentangling fact from fiction // untangle a web of deceit

Q: When might 'disembarrass' be a better fit than 'disentangle'?

Although the words disembarrass and disentangle have much in common, disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders. // disembarrassed herself of her advisers

Q: When can 'disencumber' be used instead of 'disentangle'?

In some situations, the words disencumber and disentangle are roughly equivalent. However, disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down. // an article disencumbered of jargon

Q: In what contexts can 'extricate' take the place of 'disentangle'?

The synonyms extricate and disentangle are sometimes interchangeable, but extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation. // extricated himself from financial difficulties

disentangle

verb

ˌdis-in-ˈtaŋ-gəl

Definition of disentangle next

as in to unravel

to separate the various strands of it took forever to disentangle the knot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to free

to set free from entanglement or difficulty the years that it took to disentangle ourselves from our troubles after someone started using our social security numbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disentangle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disentangle are disembarrass, disencumber, extricate, and untangle. While all these words mean "to free from what binds or holds back," disentangle and untangle suggest painstaking separation of a thing from other things.

disentangling fact from fiction

untangle a web of deceit

When might disembarrass be a better fit than disentangle?

Although the words disembarrass and disentangle have much in common, disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

When can disencumber be used instead of disentangle?

In some situations, the words disencumber and disentangle are roughly equivalent. However, disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down.

an article disencumbered of jargon

In what contexts can extricate take the place of disentangle?

The synonyms extricate and disentangle are sometimes interchangeable, but extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

extricated himself from financial difficulties

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disentangle Most schools dismissed requests to disentangle their investments from companies with connections to Israel, but some seem to entertain those pushes more seriously. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2024 Though most schools ultimately dismissed requests to disentangle their investment portfolios from companies with connections to Israel, some seemed to entertain those asks more earnestly. —

Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2024 Advisers struggled with disentangling the drug’s effects from the psychotherapy—a realm the FDA doesn’t regulate. —

Emily Mullin, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2024 The companies are more closely embedded in WBD’s broadcast business than some realize, so disentangling them was not straightforward. —

Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for disentangle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disentangle

Verb

By now, however, that success has decisively unraveled.

Sarah E. Yerkes, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
But their convictions were unraveled by a judge’s homophobic remarks.

Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024