entangle

verb

in-ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce entangle (audio)
Definition of entanglenext
1
as in to knot
to twist together into a usually confused mass in the process of taking down the Christmas tree, we managed to entangle the string of lights into a hopeless mess of wires

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trap
to catch or hold as if in a net the young runaway gradually became entangled in a web of lies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult the history of Alexander the Great is entangled by variant accounts of his exploits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of entangle Football is full of cautionary tales (and, for the sake of balance, morally-dubious fairy tales) about the risks and rewards of taking on finance adjacent to or entangled with politics. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 July 2026 In theory, this means any two spins could be moved around arbitrarily, brought into proximity, and entangled. — ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026 Things went from bad to worse when they became entangled with a group of dangerous criminals, leading to a night of hilariously horrific violence. — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026 SpaceX is an unusually difficult case because so much of its value lies in distant, nonlinear and related-party-entangled businesses with little public operating history. — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for entangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangle
  1. knot
  2. trap
  3. complicate
  4. tangle
  5. enmesh
  6. intertwine
  7. entrap
  8. ensnare
Verb
  • Javier Sanoja scored Conine with an RBI double and scored one batter later when Joe Mack followed with a run-scoring single that knotted the score at 2-2.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • Some sort of pink fabric was knotted up around where the ratchet strap was strung from the tree.
    — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Definition of knot
Verb
  • Ababu stated there could be more people trapped in the debris.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • During the call, Fernandez indicated that CMA CGM still has eight of its vessels still trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the concerns over safety in the strait.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • The softening job market may complicate the calculation for the Federal Reserve, which is also battling stubborn inflation.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The report complicates the outlook for the Federal Reserve, where policymakers are divided over the path for interest rates.
    — Yun Li,Sean Conlon,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • Frantic skirmishes between the family and the beast take place as the house floods, and eventually the invading creature is tangled up in a trap.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • After missing the playoffs in 2024, the Bears opened against Fremd, and Lewandowski had to tangle early and often with Northwestern recruit Owen Jakubczak.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of tangle
Verb
  • Furthermore, the novel opens on a world that has long been enmeshed in performance.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
  • Richie completely enmeshes the success of the restaurant with his personal identity and happiness.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Definition of enmesh
Verb
  • Memories of a childhood marked by economic hardship and abuse intertwine with the natural world in this graceful début memoir, which is structured around the author’s seven-year project of walking every street in Santa Cruz County, in California.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The brunch will be accompanied by uplifting gospel music intertwined with smooth jazz.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of intertwine
Verb
  • Democrats called the hearing a politically motivated attempt at entrapping Fauci and praised the scientist for his work during the pandemic.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • Democrats on the committee have echoed Fauci's argument that the hearing is meant to entrap him.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of entrap
Verb
  • The irony here is that Singer is returning to his profession while so many ensnared in his application shenanigans never fully got back to theirs.
    — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Off the field, head coach Mike Vrabel was ensnared in controversy.
    — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 27 July 2026
Definition of ensnare

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entails
entangle
entangled
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Cite this Entry

“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangle. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of entangle for Spanish Speakers

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