as in to free
to set free from entanglement or difficulty still struggling to disembarrass herself of the emotional baggage of a failed relationship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disembarrass differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disembarrass are disencumber, disentangle, extricate, and untangle. While all these words mean "to free from what binds or holds back," disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

When might disencumber be a better fit than disembarrass?

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

an article disencumbered of jargon

How do disentangle and untangle relate to one another, in the sense of disembarrass?

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

disentangling fact from fiction
untangle a web of deceit

When is it sensible to use extricate instead of disembarrass?

The words extricate and disembarrass are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

extricated himself from financial difficulties

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disembarrass
Verb
  • For teams, this means reducing overlap, prioritizing critical tasks and freeing people to focus on high-impact work—no more second-guessing who does what and when.
    Ricky Muddimer, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
  • The idea is to free you up to comfortably use the car's infotainment screen, talk to co-passengers, and catch up on books or videos on long journeys and commutes.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Capping them could save $5 billion a year, or $225 per fee-paying household.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Brown urged the Red Sox to trade for San Diego closer Robert Suarez, who at age 33 saved 36 games for the Padres in his first full season as a closer.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Artist and rapper Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, herself formerly incarcerated and commissioned to create a new work for the Rikers women, worked with Ringgold, politicians, artists, philanthropists, and corrections officers to liberate the original painting.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Tragically, Hunt notes, the same global commodity that may have helped liberate British women did the opposite for West Africans, who endured the Middle Passage in ever larger numbers to work as slaves in the Caribbean sugar fields and sweeten English tea.
    Marjoleine Kars, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Keep the records until the loan is paid off, and for three years after that, Gallegos said. Treasury bond records: Keep them until the bonds are redeemed.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Best of all, guests can earn or redeem Accor Live Limitless points when staying here.
    Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Listen to this article A two-car crash in Shelton on Wednesday night sent two people to the hospital, including one who had to be extricated from a vehicle.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Three people were trapped inside one of the vehicles before they were extricated out, per CBS Miami.
    Christine Pelisek, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Disembarrass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disembarrass. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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