extricate

[ ek-stri-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·tri·cat·ed, ex·tri·cat·ing.

1. to free or release from entanglement; disengage:

   to extricate someone from a dangerous situation.

   Synonyms: liberate, deliver, rescue, loose

2. to liberate (gas) from combination, as in a chemical process.

extricate

/ ˈɛkstrɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to remove or free from complication, hindrance, or difficulty; disentangle

Usage

See extract

Derived Forms

• ˌextriˈcation, noun
• ˈextricable, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·tri·ca·tion [ek-stri-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• un·ex·tri·cat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extricate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin extricātus (past participle of extricāre ), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + tric(ae) “perplexities” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of extricate¹

C17: from Latin extrīcāre to disentangle, from ex- ¹+ trīcae trifles, vexations

Example Sentences

To extricate himself, he surrendered to the government the management of, and revenues from, most of his property.

From The Daily Beast

This week, Merkel ominously said she expects it will take Europe another decade to extricate itself from the crisis.

From The Daily Beast

George W. Bush set the trap just over nine years ago, and the Democrats are still trying to extricate themselves.

From The Daily Beast

A bit more urgent is how to extricate ourselves from this stinker of a GECSTGD.

From The Daily Beast

It took Jerry Alcorn but a moment to extricate himself from his horse, and as he half rose he fired at Lawrence, but missed.

From Project Gutenberg

He wanted two millions to extricate the State from its financial embarrassments.

From Project Gutenberg

As robust as the quarryman, this man made violent efforts to extricate himself from the embrace of the serf.

From Project Gutenberg

He is like a strong man struggling in a morass: every effort to extricate himself only sinks him deeper and deeper.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a prickly pear on top, the thorns of which caught him so that at first he could not extricate himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bail out
• detach
• differentiate
• disengage
• disentangle
• extract
• liberate
• rescue