Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disencumber differ from other similar words?

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

an article disencumbered of jargon

When would disembarrass be a good substitute for disencumber?

The words disembarrass and disencumber can be used in similar contexts, but disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders.

disembarrassed herself of her advisers

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

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

disentangling fact from fiction
untangle a web of deceit

When is extricate a more appropriate choice than disencumber?

The meanings of extricate and disencumber largely overlap; however, extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation.

extricated himself from financial difficulties

Example 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 disencumber However, before negotiations between Lyon and the Gunners can begin in earnest, the Gunners may first have to disencumber themselves of the German's £350,000-a-week wages. SI.com, 3 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disencumber
Verb
  • Shipping containers on the MSC Livorno await unloading at the Port of Long Beach, California on March 5, 2025, one day after US President Donald Trump.
    Lori Ann LaRocco, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Another 45 minutes later, boxes of staples, MREs, and cases of water were being unloaded and distributed to the community, which had gone without these essentials for eight days.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than rising up and killing its former masters, Murderbot just goes about performing its security work, relieving the boredom by watching a lot of entertainment media.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Trump rejected a 90-day pause in tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday, a bit of rumor that briefly relieved agitated financial markets before it was promptly dismissed by the White House as fiction.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
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

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Cite this Entry

“Disencumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disencumber. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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