entangle

verb

en·​tan·​gle in-ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce entangle (audio)
en-
entangled; entangling; entangles

transitive verb

1
a
: to wrap or twist together : interweave
b
2
a
: to involve in a perplexing or troublesome situation
became entangled in a lawsuit
b
: to make complicated
the story is entangled with legends
entangler noun

Examples of entangle in a Sentence

in the process of taking down the Christmas tree, we managed to entangle the string of lights into a hopeless mess of wires the young runaway gradually became entangled in a web of lies
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Monday brings earnings from Nucor, which Cramer said is in entangled in two of Wall Street’s most pressing issues — tariffs and recession worries. Julie Coleman, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 Towering mounds of textiles sprawl across the terrain, with some garments—price tags still intact—entangled among plastic bags, bottles, and other waste. Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The narrative presents the repercussions of all three decisions, and the deadly confrontations that result from each as she gets entangled with the case’s owner. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025 The appeal is just one of several lawsuits or legal issues involving the litigious father of two, 40, who has been entangled in more than a half-dozen lawsuits in both the U.S. and England against various media entities. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for entangle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French entangler — more at tangle entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of entangle was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entangle. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

entangle

verb
en·​tan·​gle in-ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce entangle (audio)
1
: to make tangled or confused
2
: to involve in a tangle or a confusing or difficult situation
entanglement
-mənt
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on entangle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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