Word
extricate
Phoneticsex·tri·cate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɛkstɹəˌkeɪt/
UK/ˈɛkstɹɪkˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to free someone or something from a difficult or trapped situation. You use this when it takes effort to get out of a physical space or a complicated problem.
v. to free or release from a constraint or difficulty. Often describes the physical removal of an object from a confined space or the extraction of a person from a complex social or legal entanglement.
Examples
“He managed to extricate his foot from the narrow gap.”
“The lawyer worked for months to extricate the company from the disastrous contract it had signed.”
“Emergency crews spent several hours using specialized equipment to extricate the passengers from the wreckage after the train derailed in the remote valley.”
Examples
simple
“He managed to extricate his foot from the narrow gap.”
contextual
“The lawyer worked for months to extricate the company from the disastrous contract it had signed.”
complex
“Emergency crews spent several hours using specialized equipment to extricate the passengers from the wreckage after the train derailed in the remote valley.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “extricate” in context.
Verb
01. carefully extricate
“Firefighters had to carefully extricate the driver from the wreckage.”
adv + verb
02. extricate from
“It took months to extricate the company from the disastrous merger.”
verb + prep
03. successfully extricate
“She managed to successfully extricate herself from the legal dispute.”
adv + verb
Noun
04. attempt to extricate
“His attempt to extricate himself from the lie only made matters worse.”
noun + inf
05. effort to extricate
“The rescue team led the effort to extricate the hikers from the cave.”
noun + inf
06. extricate oneself from a situation
“He found it impossible to extricate himself from the awkward social situation.”
07. extricate someone from a mess
“The lawyer was hired to extricate the CEO from a financial mess.”
08. struggle to extricate
“The bird struggled to extricate its wing from the plastic netting.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, often followed by the preposition 'from'.
Pitfall
He extricated from the situation.
He extricated himself from the situation.
Extricate is transitive; if the subject is the one being freed, a reflexive pronoun like 'himself' or 'herself' must be used.
Real-World Examples
“How can football extricate itself from the clutches of the mega-rich?” “Rescue teams were struggling on Saturday to extricate workers trapped in hydropower tunnels after this week’s devastating floods in Nepal, even as the Nepal Army said its thermal drones were not detecting any signs of life.” “Salv Grav, the underboss transformed into a key asset for the Government in its battle against John Gotti, was unexpectedly extricated from prison under dubious circumstances and clandestinely transported to meet with prosecutors during the late hours.” “The police managed to extricate her through the back window of the car.” Etymology
From Latin extrīcātus, past participle of extrīcō — to unravel or free from entanglements. The source also supplies intricate for comparison, the two words having diverged from a common root in opposite directions.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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