to untangle

Examples

• All

• You get up out of bed to untangle the bedsheet.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Untangle these for me, will ya?

  Love, Simon (2018)

• You gotta untangle the wires.

  Hardcore Henry (2015)

• So let's get this tree removed here and we're going to untangle some of these roots.

• And I think you need somebody to help you untangle this ball of yarn.

  Dr. Phil

• Passersby who offered to help untangle them were ignored; then, after an hour, the two simply walked away.

  Academic text (1999)

• Sitting on a smooth rock, Bonnie began untangling her long hair with her fingers.

  Fiction book (1999)

• I tried to untangle it before he saw, which made my fingers tremble uncontrollably.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Rick kneeled down and used his nimble paws to untangle the string.

  Fiction book (1999)

• She needed to untangle the necklace before she could wear it.

Synonyms

U

to untie

vsto untangle

91 1.0

Make a knot or lace loose by undoing it

is more focused on separating entangled fibers rather than unfastening knots

U

to unravel

vsto untangle

38 4.3

To come apart into threads, like a rope or cloth

is about actively separating tangled fibers rather than materials falling apart

S

to straighten out

vsto untangle

11 2.9

To make something free of bends, twists, or knots

is more general, covering straightening as well as careful fiber separation

U

to unwind

vsto untangle

5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

is more specific to undoing twists in threads than general straightening

U

to uncoil

vsto untangle

3 3.7

To make something that is rolled or curled become straight

is narrower, focused on coils rather than general tangles of fibers

U

to untwist

vsto untangle

2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

focuses more on careful separation of fibers rather than general straightening

D

to disentangle

vsto untangle

1 5.3

To free something twisted and knotted, like a cord

focuses specifically on separating twisted fibers or threads precisely

U

to unbraid

vsto untangle

1 7.1

To take apart hair or thread that is twisted together

is broader, applying to any twisted or tangled fibers not only braids

U

to untwine

vsto untangle

1 7.4

To separate things that are twisted together, like cables or yarn

is narrower, emphasizing precise separation of intertwined fibers or threads

U

to unweave

vsto untangle

1 8.6

To take apart threads that form cloth or a basket

is more general, not limited to woven structures

U

to unsnarl

vsto untangle

1 7.6

To free something from a tangle, like knots in rope or wire

is more focused on neat separation of fibers, not only messy situations

U

to unknot

vsto untangle

1 5.1

To make a tied rope or string loose so it comes apart

is broader, covering any separation of twisted threads beyond knots

R

to ravel out

vsto untangle

6.7

To separate twisted threads or make a confused situation clear

is more about physically separating twisted fibers than clarifying meaning

R

to ravel

vsto untangle

6.5

To untangle threads or cords that are twisted together

is similar but the key stresses physical, careful separation of fibers

U

to unknit

vsto untangle

8.0

To undo a sweater or other item made from yarn to reuse the yarn

applies more widely to pulling apart tangled fibers rather than unmaking knits

U

to unloose (a) knot

vsto untangle

• Archaic

5.9

To untie a knot so it comes apart

is about careful physical separation of tangled threads rather than just loosening knots

Antonyms

T

to tangle

46 3.7

To twist things together so they are hard to pull apart

Idioms

U

to untangle this mess

1 5.5

To make a confusing or difficult situation clear

Phrasal Verbs

U

to untangle one's thoughts

6.3

To make your ideas clear and organized after feeling confused

How Untangled

to free

337 1.0

to disentangle

1 5.3

to untangle

10 3.5

to untie

91 1.0

to loosen

88 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology