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

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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 Conservatives shuddered to think how close the country had come to permanent entangling alliances. — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 By entangling 30 logical qubits in a single, coherent quantum state, Infleqtion has validated the core architecture of its Sqale hardware and Superstaq software, on its roadmap to deliver 100 logical qubits by 2028. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026 Our sense of peace becomes entangled with someone else’s behavior. — Hylke Faber, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Ahmed also offers a glimpse into just how entangled the Biden White House was with lobbyists and donors who wanted to ensure that Israel enjoyed a free hand. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 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
  • There weren’t many in Saturday’s lockdown defensive effort, but Grade-A scoring opportunities still emerged, the most dangerous arriving midway through the final period, with the score knotted 1-1.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The match entered the break knotted at 1-1 before the two sides traded goals just six minutes into the second half.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of knot
Verb
  • Federal government attorneys say the lawsuits are a backdoor way to regulate heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions and amount to an unconstitutional power grab.
    — LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • This is a person who’s really isolated herself, who has run from love, who has thought of love as a trap, and who has done everything in her power not to be trapped.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • Iran war complicates interest rate debate Earlier this year, the FOMC wrestled with lowering rates versus holding them steady despite higher prices.
    — Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The United Arab Emirates has canceled all flights to Israel, complicating travel for hundreds of passengers who fly between the countries on a typical day.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • The fisherman and the shark apparently tangled when the man tried to release the fish.
    — Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Late in the fourth quarter, Wilson and Cunningham became tangled during a physical play.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of tangle
Verb
  • Revenue was only around $8 billion at the time, and the league was enmeshed in controversy, from Spygate to concussion hearings to a pending lockout.
    — Will Leitch, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The Commission is currently enmeshed in a legal tangle with Walt Disney Co and ABC.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of enmesh
Verb
  • The group, bonded in tragedy, has been intertwined over the last 17 years.
    — Meagan Harris, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • A bit of fishing-village whimsy intertwined with underwater kaiju action?
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of intertwine
Verb
  • How else could that show have ended, the way people were being entrapped, and, certainly, with the dubious legality of it all?
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Berry created a set that entrapped the pair with the landscape as well.
    — Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of entrap
Verb
  • Partners cannot tell which agreements will be ensnared in the next scandal, which encourages them to hedge.
    — MATIAS SPEKTOR, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Of course Charles would be suspicious of this pretty, educated girl who shows up out of nowhere, refuses to share what brought her here, and has clearly ensnared Adam.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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