disentangle

verb

dis·​en·​tan·​gle ˌdis-in-ˈtaŋ-gəl 

disentangled; disentangling; disentangles

transitive verb

: to free from entanglement : unravel

intransitive verb

: to become disentangled

disentanglement

ˌdis-in-ˈtaŋ-gəl-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for disentangle

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 disentangle in a Sentence

it took forever to disentangle the knot

the years that it took to disentangle ourselves from our troubles after someone started using our social security numbers

Recent Examples on the Web

The ensuing book, a taut, enthralling hybrid of fact and fiction impossible to disentangle, situates itself firmly in the mess — in a host of contradictions and uncertainties. —Emily Eakin, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025

That changed in 2021 under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, as part of an effort to disentangle finances between the city and the district. —Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

This isn’t one of those Marvel movies that fans had begun to trash for getting swallowed up by CGI and strangled by too many multiverse tentacles to disentangle. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 Feb. 2025

Yet, disentangling cartel operations from U.S. interests in Mexico could be immensely complicated. —Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for disentangle

• entangle
• quadrangle
• triangle
• untangle
• angle
• bangle
• dangle
• jangle
• mangle
• strangle
• tangle
• wrangle

Kids Definition

disentangle

verb

dis·​en·​tan·​gle ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈtaŋ-gəl 

: to straighten out : untangle

disentanglement

-mənt 

noun