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.
Another option is to use a wide-tooth comb for detangling wet hair. — Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026 In several clips, she can be seen detangling and washing his hair. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 26 June 2026 This model is made for larger homes with a lot of pet fur, and its detangling design means no more manually clearing out hair clogs from the vacuum turbines. — Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026 Follow that with a hydrating shampoo, then a protein hair mask, detangling from ends to roots, and sitting under a dryer or steam cap for at least 20 minutes. — Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 23 Apr. 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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