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

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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

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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 The parachutist was seen suspending 100 feet high after their parachute became entangled just after 1 a.m., the Charlotte Fire Department said on social media. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 Feb. 2025 Two local fishermen recently rescued a humpback whale that had become entangled in rope off the United Kingdom. — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025 Recent Trump executive actions have laid bare the extent to which state and local program budgets are entangled with federal funds. — Tony Woodlief, National Review, 2 Feb. 2025 In a bit of good news, at least three right whales that had been seen previously entangled have been seen without any entangling gear in recent months, according to NOAA's right whale updates page. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 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
  • The teams traded leads down the stretch before senior Manny Brown (18 points) knotted the score 20-20 as the first quarter came to an end.
    — Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Hearts and lives, fears, memories and uncertainties knotted in a jumble of emotions.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of knot
Verb
  • The man the Observer spoke to is worried about his mother, who is still trapped in Afghanistan.
    — Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2025
  • That's a problem when they're trapped in an experimental machine that simulates their creative ideas.
    — James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of trap
Verb
  • So, the situation is likely complicated, and your daughter could probably use someone to process this with.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The transition from surviving to learning how to live is complicated, but Ruth didn’t feel sorry for me.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • Land a fiber-optic drone in the wrong spot and its millimeters-thick, through which the drone sends and receives signals, could get tangled.
    — David Axe, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Page, whose character is tangled in a complicated dynamic with Harris', framed the movie's tension as a battle between personal needs and global consequences.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of tangle
Verb
  • Lucy Hale may be best known as the de-facto leader in Pretty Little Liars, but in an alternate reality she might have been enmeshed in a double life as the protagonist in Disney‘s Hannah Montana.
    — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The line also enmeshes craftsmanship with cultural storytelling.
    — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of enmesh
Verb
  • The perforated leather panels are intertwined with a playful mix of materials.
    — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Sagal then reflected on how her personal growth was intertwined with Applegate.
    — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of intertwine
Verb
  • Gabi and Robinson head to the diner to entrap Maggie with yet another plate of cheese fries.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
  • In the initial announcement about the plan to vacate the convictions of felons entrapped by crack-selling stings in Broward County, the convicts were told not to contact the State Attorney's Office or the Broward Sheriff's Office.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of entrap
Verb
  • The family of shows ensnared plenty of big names throughout their air, including Gary Busey, Omarosa, LaToya Jackson and Lisa Rinna.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Microsoft’s center of gravity in corporate software ultimately ensnared Skype, which found itself in the Office division and under orders to build tools geared toward a workplace audience as well as a consumer one.
    — Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of ensnare

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Cite this Entry

“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangle. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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