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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Franks and Mike Jackson got entangled in the Panthers’ first fight last month; Jackson sent Franks’ helmet 15 feet in the air as a result. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 He’d also have been dismayed to see China entangled in bitter trade disputes with the US and Europe. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Suffocated by a pressure to perform Becoming entangled with one’s audience meant that followers’ reactions – whether positive or negative – often started to feel like a burden. — Julianna Pillemer, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026 In any case, somehow Collier and one or two others who caught up with him tied the bear to a tree, leaving the animal entangled in the rope and wallowing in exhaustion in the shallow water. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 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
  • That's when Bouanga used assists from Jude Terry and Aaron Long to knot the score with his 11th goal of the season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • That’s when Bouanga used assists from Jude Terry and Aaron Long to knot the score with his 11th goal of the season.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of knot
Verb
  • That snow warms the ground below and allows microbes during the winter to release more of the heat-trapping gas methane, Elmendorf said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Making memory foam breathe Cooling materials can only do so much if warm air remains trapped inside a mattress, so ventilation makes up another substantial part of the design.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • Bond yields Persistent inflation, tariffs and whipsawing gas prices are not the only obstacles complicating the task for the Fed.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Beijing — Already harrowing rescue efforts along the China-Nepal border are being complicated by the risk of new flooding or landslides, with authorities in China and Nepal pausing rescue efforts Friday due to those fears.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • Because trunk cargo nets have large holes, pointed items such as fishing poles, bats, or rackets can get tangled.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • General Daily Insight for August 26, 2026 Small adjustments can keep today’s plans from getting tangled.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 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
  • All three are in brightly colored dresses intertwined with flowers, birds, trees and mountains.
    — Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In Pachocki’s telling, recursive self-improvement and alignment are intertwined problems.
    — Alex Heath, Time, 26 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
  • Six months later, the war trudges on, indirectly ensnaring much of the world by severely disrupting global trade.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The homeowner, Brett Bymaster, lauded officers for ending the chaotic situation swiftly and without any harm to his adult children, son-in-law, and young grandchildren who were unwittingly ensnared in the encounter.
    — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ensnare

Browse Nearby Words

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 1 Sep. 2026.

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