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.

The explanation is hard to untangle for those who aren’t true numerology zealots.

From The Wall Street Journal

But switching name order can cause confusion that’s hard to untangle.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

I untangle the headpiece from my hair and leave my station, but in the retiring room, the dress stares at me and I stare at it and I don’t want to wear this uniform again.

From Literature

A cow in a field was a marvel and had to be investigated; it took me half an hour to get untangled from the fence.

From Literature

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