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
Relevance
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
From the outset, however, American leaders were wary of becoming permanently entangled in European security affairs.
—
Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Trump extends TikTok ban deadline for a third time
TikTok’s fate has since entangled in US-China trade talks, though there appears to be little political appetite to force a sale or shut it down in the US.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 20 June 2025
The energy utility has become entangled in other statewide battles.
—Olivia Diaz, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Plastic bags can also entangle wildlife, keeping hatchling sea turtles from reaching the ocean and shading coral reefs, all of which can lead to disease and death for marine species.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Trump extends TikTok ban deadline for a third time
TikTok’s fate has since entangled in US-China trade talks, though there appears to be little political appetite to force a sale or shut it down in the US.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 20 June 2025
The energy utility has become entangled in other statewide battles.
—Olivia Diaz, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Plastic bags can also entangle wildlife, keeping hatchling sea turtles from reaching the ocean and shading coral reefs, all of which can lead to disease and death for marine species.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangle
Verb
-
The 32-year-old actor, who stars as the newest iteration of the Man of Steel, was photographed in Midtown Manhattan sporting a white tank top with a gray sweater knotted around his shoulders, a pair of white trousers, and black boots.—
Emlyn Travis Updated,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
-
An oversized shawl like this one at Amazon can be knotted and tied in several different ways, serving as a cover-up or beach dress, as well as a wrap for the plane.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT
Updated July 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 July 2025
-
Some of them talked about their despondency, their sense of being trapped in the relentless cycle of the tour, in which meaning can be hard to come by; even the best have to grow accustomed to disappointment.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The case presents a unique test of NIL outside the college sports landscape and in a setting where a player contract and collective bargaining agreements complicate the situation.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
7 July 2025
-
This exhaustive scientific work is complicated by ongoing legal and ethical concerns.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
Verb
-
They get tangled up in trees and power lines; one image from the front shows a street crisscrossed by what looks like a giant spiderweb.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
Storage dividers will help keep your items separate and prevent them from tangling or rubbing together.—
Jamie Fischer,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The results showed that students with low differentiation — those who were more emotionally enmeshed with others — experienced higher social anxiety, fear of judgment, stress and more somatic symptoms like headaches, fatigue or physical tension.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
Gucci has been enmeshed with the sport since the debut of its first tennis sneaker in 1977.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
Because the couple’s lives have been so intertwined over the past decade, the actor had a close relationship with Kenya’s late father, Quincy Jones.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 July 2025
-
Fortune has also written the books One Golden Summer, This Summer Will Be Different, Meet Me at the Lake and Every Summer After — a whole lot of summer/lake fare, though none of those novels are intertwined.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
In February 2021, a Martian meteorite with the planet’s atmosphere entrapped in it went under the hammer at Christie’s auction house.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
2 July 2025
-
And some white citizens tried to help the victims: In 1870, Otis Gibson, a missionary, established a home to which entrapped young women could flee.—
Steve Inskeep,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
For decades, the lure of cartel cash has ensnared prosecutors, generals, mayors, governors — and even the country’s onetime top law enforcement honcho, Genaro García Luna, against whom Veytia testified in federal court in Brooklyn.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
-
The fallout ensnared many prominent figures in the crypto world, including Scaramucci.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangle. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share