untangle
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring out of a tangled state; disentangle; unsnarl.
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to straighten out or clear up (anything confused or perplexing).
verb
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to free from a tangled condition
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to free from perplexity or confusion
Etymology
Origin of untangle
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.
Mercifully, Aviv has bravely attempted to untangle the mother-daughter dynamic and bring it into the light.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
He loved the New Orleans Saints, playing the clarinet and thrift shopping, but could also untangle thorny math equations in minutes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
There will be a lot for investors to untangle on Thursday afternoon, when FedEx announces External link its fiscal third-quarter numbers.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
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 • Jan. 28, 2026
I untangle myself out of Chris’s arms and crawl to the foot of the bed.
From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
