Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense disentangles, present participle disentangling, past tense, past participle disentangled
1. verb
If you disentangle a complicated or confused situation, you make it easier to understand or manage to understand it, by clearly recognizing each separate element.
In this new book, Harrison brilliantly disentangles complex debates. [VERB noun]
It's impossible to disentangle the myth from reality. [VERB noun + from]
2. verb
If you disentangle something or someone from an undesirable thing or situation, you separate it from that thing or remove it from that situation.
They are looking at ways to disentangle him from this major policy decision. [VERB noun + from]
The first thing they must do is disentangle themselves from the past. [VERB noun from noun]
Synonyms: free, separate, loose, detach More Synonyms of disentangle
3. verb
If you disentangle something, you separate it from things that are twisted around it, or things that it is twisted or knotted around.
She clawed at the bushes to disentangle herself. [VERB noun]
The rope could not be disentangled and had to be cut. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB noun from noun]
Synonyms: untangle, unravel, untwist, unsnarl More Synonyms of disentangle
More Synonyms of disentangle
disentangle in British English
(ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋɡəl)
verb
1.
to release or become free from entanglement or confusion
2. (transitive)
to unravel or work out
Derived forms
disentanglement (ˌdisenˈtanglement)
noun
disentangle in American English
(ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋgəl)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌdisenˈtangled or ˌdisenˈtangling
1.
to free from something that entangles, confuses, etc.; extricate; disengage
2.
to straighten out (anything tangled, confused, etc.); unravel; untangle
verb intransitive
3.
to get free from a tangle
Derived forms
disentanglement (ˌdisenˈtanglement)
noun
Examples of 'disentangle' in a sentence
disentangle
It had been all she could 334 do to disentangle herself from his arms and step away.
Sue Welfare FALLEN WOMEN (2002)
My father was buried yesterday and I now have his affairs to disentangle and I came across your card in my purse.
Tapply, William G THE DUTCH BLUE ERROR (2002)
She rolled off, trying to disentangle herself from the comforter.
Rodriguez, Abraham SPIDERTOWN (2002)
1 (verb)
Definition
to unravel or work out
The author brilliantly disentangles complex debates.
Synonyms
resolve
This finding should resolve some intriguing paradoxes.
clear (up)
work out
sort out
clarify
A bank spokesman was unable to clarify the situation.
simplify
The aim of the scheme is to simplify the system.
2 (verb)
They are looking at ways to disentangle him from this situation.
Synonyms
free
It took firefighters two hours to free us.
separate
Police moved in to separate the two groups.
loose
He loosed his grip on the rifle.
detach
Detach the bottom part from the form and keep it for reference.
sever
Oil was still gushing from the severed fuel line.
disconnect
He disconnected the bottle from the overhead hook.
extricate
Emergency workers tried to extricate the survivors from the wreckage.
disengage
He gently disengaged himself from his sister's tearful embrace.
3 (verb)
Definition
to release from entanglement or confusion
The rope could not be disentangled and had to be cut.
Synonyms
untangle
trying to untangle several reels of film
unravel
He could unravel knots that others could not even attempt.
untwist
unsnarl
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clarify
Definition
to make or become clear or easy to understand
A bank spokesman was unable to clarify the situation.
Synonyms
explain,
resolve,
interpret,
illuminate,
clear up,
simplify,
make plain,
elucidate,
explicate (formal),
clear the air about,
throw or shed light on
in the sense of detach
Definition
to disengage and separate
Detach the bottom part from the form and keep it for reference.
Synonyms
separate,
free,
remove,
divide,
isolate,
cut off,
sever,
loosen,
segregate,
disconnect,
tear off,
disengage,
disentangle,
unfasten,
disunite,
uncouple,
unhitch,
disjoin,
unbridle
in the sense of disconnect
Definition
to undo or break the connection between (two things)
He disconnected the bottle from the overhead hook.