What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disentangle
Example
She tried to disentangle her hair after swimming in the ocean. [disentangle: verb]
Example
It's important to disentangle your thoughts before making a decision. [disentangle: verb]
Example
The mediator helped disentangle the dispute between the two parties. [disentangle: verb]
untangle
Example
He spent hours trying to untangle the fishing line. [untangle: verb]
Example
Let's untangle this mess and figure out what went wrong. [untangle: verb]
Example
The teacher helped the students untangle the difficult math problem. [untangle: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Untangle is more commonly used than disentangle in everyday language. Untangle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disentangle is less common and tends to be used in more formal or technical contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between disentangle and untangle?
While disentangle is typically associated with a more formal or technical tone, untangle is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
