Synonyms

untangle

American

[uhn-tang-guhl] / ʌnˈtæŋ gəl /

verb (used with object)

untangled, untangling

to bring out of a tangled state; disentangle; unsnarl.
to straighten out or clear up (anything confused or perplexing).

untangle British

/ ʌnˈtæŋɡəl /

verb

to free from a tangled condition
to free from perplexity or confusion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of untangle

First recorded in 1540–50; un- ² + tangle ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To untangle the effects of genetics and experience, the research team analyzed blood samples from 110 people with diverse backgrounds.

From Science Daily

He was shouting so, it took us a spell to untangle what he was saying.

From Literature

Could it be untangled or reorganized in some way to create another meaning or point in a direction?

From Literature

Dating and relationship coach Kate Mansfield says casual relationships often have less serious life stuff to untangle, so the transition into friendship can be smoother.

From BBC

At the same time, they spread in different ways and can cause very different symptoms, making their evolutionary paths difficult to untangle.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023