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
  • But the original poster disagreed, arguing that the line was in fact freeing.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • By eliminating or at least reducing manual, error-prone processes, these applications free up finance teams to focus on strategic initiatives like scaling operations and optimizing capital allocation.
    Carlos Vega, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • If projections around the tariffs’ impact are correct, then getting some shopping done now could save you time and money later.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 10 Apr. 2025
  • California family discusses ongoing legal and political battle to 'save girls' sports' as issue heats up Taylor and Ryan Starling of Riverside, California discussed their ongoing lawsuit over trans inclusion in girls' sports, speaking at the state capital and all the fallout that has come with it.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Photo: Courtesy of Hannah Jackson Eighty years ago today, on April 11, 1945, Morris was liberated from the Buchenwald concentration camp in Weimar, Germany.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2025
  • In liberating Hollywood movies from the social context, younger viewers also liberated them from their commercial roots, from the very notion of popularity, which was central to Kael’s understanding of the art of movies.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Raise your status to redeem better bonuses and discounts for traveling. NHL fans can find a Hat Trick Jackpot.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Customers may redeem a free Ben & Jerry's scoop of their choice, cone included, at any participating Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop on Free Cone Day.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Firefighters had to extricate the man, who was not wearing a seatbelt, authorities said.
    Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Police said that Johnson was extricated from her car using the jaws of life and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 8 Mar. 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 23 Apr. 2025.

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