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.

Untangle this one before Game 4 begins Sunday night, with St. Louis holding a two-games-to-one lead.

From Washington Post • Oct. 27, 2013

Try and Untangle This Bosnian Serbs and the Muslim government of Bosnia signed an agreement to open the besieged capital of Sarajevo to the outside world beginning Wednesday.

From Time Magazine Archive

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