entangle

en·tan·gle

verb \in-ˈtaŋ-gəl, en-\

Definition of ENTANGLE

transitive verb

1

a : to wrap or twist together : interweave b : ensnare

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>

— en·tan·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of ENTANGLE

1. <in the process of taking down the Christmas tree, we managed to entangle the string of lights into a hopeless mess of wires>
2. <the young runaway gradually became entangled in a web of lies>

Origin of ENTANGLE

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ENTANGLE

Synonyms: interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, knot, snarl, tangle

Antonyms: disentangle, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist

Related Words: jumble, scrabble, scramble; braid, enlace, entwine, entwist, inweave, plait, twine, weave, wind, wreathe, writhe

Near Antonyms: unknot, unravel, unscramble; unweave

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with ENTANGLE

embrangle, face angle, pentangle, quadrangle, rectangle, right angle, round angle, straight angle, triangle, untangle, wide-angle