Skip to main content
to decouple

to decouple

2 7.3
Treat two things as separate even if they are linked
  • verb
  • /dɪˈkʌpəl/
translation icon : disociar
  • Second, they decouple religion and ethnicity.

But is there a way to decouple reasoning from facts?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • And of course, I can decouple the artist from the art that they do.

  • So is it possible Bitcoin could actually decouple from the stock market?

  • No, I think the main idea is that you should decouple work from having to live.

  • What happens if you decouple sex from pregnancy?

  • Let me review where my week went, good and bad, and let me decouple my emotions from that so I can enter Monday with freedom.

  • But is there a way to decouple reasoning from facts?

  • But for you anyway, how do you decouple your idea of personal style from thinness?

  • Indeed, there may be a chance now of achieving a general or at least widespread ceasefire, decoupled from a definitive political solution.

    Academic text (1994)
  • What we are proposing is downsizing colleges and universities to a more reasonable scale and eventually decoupling undergraduate education from the largest of them.

    Academic text (1996)
  • In order to analyze the issues effectively, we must decouple the data from our personal biases.

Synonyms

to isolate
vsto decouple
256 4.2

To keep someone or something apart from others

is about treating items as separate rather than leaving them physically alone
to separate from
vsto decouple
219 2.7

To keep one thing apart from another so they do not mix

is about considering items independently in thought rather than physical division
to disconnect
vsto decouple
161 3.5

To separate something so it is no longer joined, for example remove a cable or turn off power

is conceptual separation rather than removing a physical connection or power
to disengage
vsto decouple
82 5.3

To stop being part of or connected to something

is conceptual separation rather than stopping involvement or freeing
to compartmentalize
vsto decouple
24 7.4

To separate parts of your life, work, or feelings so they stay apart

is about treating things separate without implying strict isolation
to detach
vsto decouple
12 4.3

To separate a part from a larger group for a special task

is about treating things as not connected rather than removing a part
to untangle
vsto decouple
12 4.9

To free someone from a difficult or confusing situation

is about conceptual separation not only freeing from complications
to uncouple
vsto decouple
5 5.3

To disconnect two things that are joined, often machine parts

is about treating things as separate in thought rather than mechanical separation
to disaggregate
vsto decouple
  • Specialized
3 7.5

To separate something into smaller parts to study it

is general separation without the specific focus on analysis
to dissociate
vsto decouple
2 7.0

To treat two things as separate and not related

is identical in meaning but differs only by wording
to unbundle
vsto decouple
  • Specialized
2 4.6

To separate products or services sold together so each can be sold separately

is broader and not limited to separating items for sale
to disjoin
vsto decouple
1 7.4

Separate things that are attached to each other

is a mental separation not necessarily involving physical removal
to untether
vsto decouple
1 6.6

To release something that is tied or fastened so it can move away

is about treating items as unconnected rather than removing a tie
to unattach
vsto decouple
1 6.1

To separate something from what it is connected to

is the mental act of separating not the physical removal from attachment
to decontextualize
vsto decouple
1 9.0

To remove something from the situation where it came from so people can understand or use it on its own

is broader and treats things separately without removing context
to disentangle
vsto decouple
  • Specialized
1 7.4

To separate parts of data so they are easier to understand

is a general act of treating items separate not limited to data
to disjoint
vsto decouple
1 7.0

To separate parts so they are no longer connected

is the conceptual act of treating things separate rather than physical pulling apart
to separate off
vsto decouple
4.2

To divide a space with a wall or curtain to make a new area

is about thinking of items as independent rather than building physical barriers
to ravel
vsto decouple
6.5

To untangle threads or cords that are twisted together

is broader and means treating things separate beyond untangling threads

Antonyms

278 1.1

Join two things so they form one piece

65 3.7

To bring people or things together into one group

How Connected

to attach
459 2.5
to connect
278 1.1
to loosen
88 1.0
to decouple
2 7.3
to disconnect
161 3.5
to isolate
256 4.2

Surface Forms

decouple infinitive
decoupled past
decoupled past participle
decoupling present participle
decouples third person singular

Morphology

decouple = couple (semi-transparent) = de + couple

The physical idea of separating from 'couple' is clear, but the abstract sense of treating concepts as independent is a semantic extension.

Etymology

Decouple comes from the parts de- meaning 'remove' and couple meaning 'pair' or 'join', so it literally means to 'take apart a pair'. That's why to decouple ideas or choices is to treat them as separate and not linked in thought or decision.