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dénouer

to untie, to undo

verb deh-noo-EH Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Also means

to resolve, to unravel

Usage Note

Dénouer literally means to untie a knot or loosen a fastening (dénouer un noeud), but its most common use is figurative: dénouer une crise (to resolve a crisis) or dénouer une intrigue (to unravel a plot). The related noun le dénouement — borrowed directly into English — refers to the resolution of a story's plot, especially in theatre. The verb is regular -er.

Examples

"Il a réussi à dénouer la situation avec diplomatie."

Natural Translation

He managed to resolve the situation diplomatically.

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