extricate

American  

[ek-stri-keyt] / ˈɛk strɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

extricated, extricating

1. to free or release from entanglement; disengage.

   to extricate someone from a dangerous situation.

   Synonyms:

   liberate, deliver, rescue, loose, loose

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

---

extricate British  

/ ˈɛkstrɪˌkeɪt /

verb

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

---

Other Word Forms

• extricable adjective
• extrication noun
• unextricated adjective

Etymology

Origin of extricate

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

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, despite these woes, I was able to extricate some March Madness picks from the collective wisdom, or otherwise, of the major AI platforms.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Rocket responded with its “Bully Shield” program, which pays penalties and court fees for any brokers who want to extricate themselves from UWM External link’s contract.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

Kardashian employed Wasser, who costs at least $1000 an hour, according to a 2022 New Yorker profile, to legally extricate herself from her marriage to Kanye West.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2025

Broadcasts have depicted rescue crews picking through the rubble of destroyed buildings to extricate survivors in cities mostly untouched in previous bouts of violence, such as Tel Aviv.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2025

“My advice is to not get tangled up with the law to begin with. Once you do, it’s a sticky wicket, that’s for sure! Not easy to extricate oneself, har har.”

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

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