Skip to main content

Extricate vs Disentangle vs Untangle vs Disencumber vs Disembarrass

Extricatedisentangleuntangledisencumberdisembarrass are comparable when meaning to free or release from what binds or holds back.

Extricate, the most widely useful of these words, implies a situation in which someone or something is so entangled (as in difficulties or perplexities) or so restrained (as from freedom of action or movement) that great force or ingenuity is required to bring about a release.

Disentangle adheres far more closely than extricate to its basic sense of to free from what entangles; also, it is used typically of things rather than of persons and therefore seldom involves the ideas of difficulty or perplexity except for the person who seeks to free the thing entangled or to unravel what is intricately complicated.

Untangle is sometimes used in place of disentangle with much the same implications.

Disencumber implies a freeing from what weighs down, clogs, or imposes a very heavy burden.

Disembarrass implies a release from what embarrasses by or as if by impeding, hampering, or hindering.