extricate
verb
ex·tri·cate ˈek-strə-ˌkāt 
extricated; extricating
transitive verb
1
: to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty
2
a
: to distinguish from a related thing
b
archaic : unravel
extricable
ik-ˈstri-kə-bəl
adjective ek-ˈstri-
ˈek-(ˌ)stri- extrication
ˌek-strə-ˈkā-shən
noun 
Did you know?
Extricate is used for the act of freeing someone or something from a tangled situation. Its spelling and meaning comes from Latin extricatus, which combines the prefix ex- ("out of") with the noun tricae, meaning "trifles or perplexities." The resemblance of tricae to trick is no illusion—it's an ancestor.
Synonyms
- clear
- disembarrass
- disengage
- disentangle
- free
- liberate
- release
- untangle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Several survivors were extricated from the wreckage. They extricated the tractor from the mud. She hasn't been able to extricate herself from her legal problems.
Recent Examples on the Web Nowak and Duerr died before firefighters were able to extricate them, Buettner wrote. 
Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Aug. 2022 Hoover Fire Department’s Technical Rescue arrived to help extricate her. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 21 July 2022 The move comes shortly after The Washington Post reported that Musk was planning to extricate himself from the deal. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 8 July 2022 Over the course of 18 days, thousands of volunteers, including more than 100 divers, helped in the effort to extricate the soccer team amid monsoon rains. Paddy O'connell, Outside Online, 4 Aug. 2022 Officials had to extricate one person from the car, who was hospitalized. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2022 The only question today is whether Musk can extricate himself, or more precisely, at what price. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2022 Then there is the Middle East, from which America has been trying to extricate itself for years. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 25 Jan. 2022 Firefighters and lifeguards were still working to extricate the person . Wendy Fry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2022 See More
Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Aug. 2022 Hoover Fire Department’s Technical Rescue arrived to help extricate her. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 21 July 2022 The move comes shortly after The Washington Post reported that Musk was planning to extricate himself from the deal. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 8 July 2022 Over the course of 18 days, thousands of volunteers, including more than 100 divers, helped in the effort to extricate the soccer team amid monsoon rains. Paddy O'connell, Outside Online, 4 Aug. 2022 Officials had to extricate one person from the car, who was hospitalized. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2022 The only question today is whether Musk can extricate himself, or more precisely, at what price. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2022 Then there is the Middle East, from which America has been trying to extricate itself for years. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 25 Jan. 2022 Firefighters and lifeguards were still working to extricate the person . Wendy Fry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin extricatus, past participle of extricare, from ex- + tricae trifles, perplexities
First Known Use
1601, in the meaning defined at sense 2b
Kids Definition
extricate
verb
ex·tri·cate ˈek-strə-ˌkāt
extricated; extricating
: to free from a trap or difficulty
extrications
noun
as in rescues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rescues
- safeguards
- protections
- securities
- defenses
- recoveries
- guards
- salvations
- deliverances
- redemptions
- preservations
- guardianships
- conservations
- ransoms