detangle

verb

de·​tan·​gle (ˌ)dē-ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce detangle (audio)
detangled; detangling; detangles

transitive verb

: to remove tangles from
Always detangle wet hair gently with a wide-toothed comb.—Elle
Detangle and lay out all your light strings. Check for frayed wires and broken bulbs and repair or replace as needed.—Samantha Mazzotta
detangler noun
plural detanglers
Cream rinses are not designed to adhere to the hair for any length of time but are just there to assist with the combing out (detanglers, in effect). —Allison Leopold

Examples of detangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Not Your Mother’s All Eyes on Me 10-in-1 Leave-In Detangler helps detangle and smooth hair while offering heat protection up to 450°F, according to the product description. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 Hair should feel clean, not like it was scrubbed with dish soap, and leave behind enough slip to make detangling painless. — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 And with its detangling roller brush feature, this robot is an ideal choice if pet hair is an issue in your home. — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026 The matching conditioner is designed to detangle without weighing hair down and also contains provitamin B5 and argan oil. — Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detangle

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of detangle was in 1882

Rhymes for detangle

See All Rhymes for detangle

Browse Nearby Words

detainment
detangle
detassel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detangle. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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