disentangle from

USAGE SUMMARY

"disentangle from" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to untangle or separate something from a complicated or confusing situation or relationship. Example: After many years of marriage, Samantha knew it was time to disentangle herself from her controlling husband and start a new life on her own.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those on-street grooming cases that are actually reported are difficult to disentangle from other crimes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ageism can be hard to disentangle from the stark facts of aging.

The New Yorker

Critics say the larger factors are impossible to disentangle from whatever effects executions may have.

The New York Times

But the man himself has been hard to disentangle from his famous friends.

The Guardian - Books

Perpetual, consumer-driven growth has proven staggeringly difficult to disentangle from impacts like pollution, resource depletion, energy consumption, and waste.

The New Yorker

For this reason, the early stages of Renaissance art outside Italy are hard to disentangle from late Gothic.

Britannica

The contribution of pathological activity and plasticity to epileptogenesis can therefore be difficult to disentangle from that of injury.

Nature

Second, response inhibition is difficult to disentangle from other parallel processes involved in more general aspects of cognitive control.

Behavioural Brain Research

Other concerns, including population shifts to riskier areas and aging infrastructure, are difficult to disentangle from climate change costs.

The New York Times

The effects of the labor reforms are impossible to disentangle from the results of sound corporate strategy.

The New York Times

She wraps her arms around my neck as I start to disentangle from her to get changed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disentangle from" when you want to emphasize the difficulty of separating interconnected or confused elements. It's particularly effective when discussing abstract concepts or complex relationships.

Common error

Avoid using "disentangle from" when a simpler term like "separate" or "remove" is more appropriate. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the separation is complex or challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disentangle from" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to describe the action of separating or distinguishing something from a complex or confusing situation. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

9%

Wiki

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "disentangle from" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that describes the process of separating or distinguishing something from a complex or confusing situation. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is widely employed in a variety of contexts, most notably in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. It carries a neutral to formal register and is best used when emphasizing the difficulty of the separation. Related phrases include "separate from", "distinguish from", and "differentiate from". When writing, it is best practice to use "disentangle from" to emphasize the difficulty of separating interconnected elements and to avoid using it when a simpler term like "separate" is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

untangle from

Very close synonym focusing on simplifying or resolving a confusing state, implying something was previously tangled.

separate from

Implies a general act of keeping things apart; it's more direct and less nuanced than "disentangle from".

distinguish from

Focuses on recognizing differences between things, rather than the act of physically separating them.

differentiate from

Similar to "distinguish from", it emphasizes identifying unique characteristics.

detach from

Suggests a physical or emotional disconnection, often implying a previous attachment.

isolate from

Implies setting something apart to examine it separately or to protect it from external influences.

extract from

Suggests removing something from a mixture or a source, often involving effort or a specific process.

segregate from

Implies a formal or enforced separation, often based on specific criteria or rules.

disconnect from

Focuses on breaking a connection or relationship, either physical or abstract.

divorce from

Indicates a complete and formal separation, often used in legal or abstract contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "disentangle from" in a sentence?

You can use "disentangle from" to describe separating intertwined ideas, like "It's difficult to "disentangle from" fact from fiction in this conspiracy theory".

What's the difference between "disentangle from" and "separate from"?

"Separate from" is a general term for keeping things apart, while ""disentangle from"" implies a more complex process of unraveling interconnected or confused elements.

What are some alternatives to saying "disentangle from"?

Alternatives include "distinguish from", "differentiate from", or "detach from", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "disentangle from" a formal or informal expression?

"Disentangle from" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression, suitable for academic, news, and professional contexts, but may sound overly elaborate in very informal settings.