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untangle
verb
un·tan·gle
ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl
untangled; untangling; untangles
: to loose from tangles or entanglement : straighten out
untangle a knot
untangle a mystery
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for untangle
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 untangle in a Sentence
She carefully untangled the child's hair.
He untangled the garden hose.
Recent Examples on the Web
Together, Uncanny Valley’s hosts will untangle and explain the latest and greatest—or strangest—trends from within the tech industry and how they’re poised to shape society at large.
—Katie Drummond, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
For years, the city has made unsuccessful attempts to untangle the byzantine bureaucracy that maintains the streetscape, in which a seemingly simple fix like repaving a corner can conjure up a web of departments, timelines, requirements, studies and objectives.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
This intricate data web needs to be untangled, requiring tools and expertise to ensure successful integration.
—Amit Singh, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
As a judge and some other people involved try to untangle whether or not this case can really even be heard.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for untangle
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Word History
First Known Use
1550, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near untangle
Cite this Entry
“Untangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untangle. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
untangle
verb
un·tan·gle
ˌən-ˈtaŋ-gəl
ˈən-
1
: to remove a tangle from : disentangle
untangle a knot
2
: to straighten out : resolve
untangle a mystery
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