tangled

adjective

tan·​gled ˈtaŋ-gəld How to pronounce tangled (audio)
1
: existing in or giving the appearance of a state of utter disorder
2
: very involved : exceedingly complex

Examples of tangled in a Sentence

it helps to have a lawyer to sort out the tangled contracts that home buyers typically have to contend with
Recent Examples on the Web A number of recent stories chart the tangled, tragic global fault lines of the war. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Her tales of early adulthood romances and the tangled, wrenching ups and downs of intimate female friendships allow her fans to see her life with a clear, shared vision, blemishes and all. Max Pilley, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2024 But his tangled personal finances forced him to resign as the city’s first Hispanic schools chief. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024 My garlic noodles arrive in a tangled mountain with a sizable filet of catfish draped over the peak. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023 Powell and Linklater, who last worked together on Everybody Wants Some!!, co-wrote the film, which escalates into a tangled web of deception and mystery with existentialist comedy at its core and some romance thrown in there, too. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2024 Or the tangled web of biblical and political concrete sculptures at S.P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden. Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024 Santos’ personal and professional biography as a wealthy businessman began to unravel soon after winning election to represent Long Island and Queens last year, revealing a tangled web of deception. Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2023 Tech keeper Nobody likes reaching into their bag to find a tangled web of chargers—especially when your phone is on low battery and time is of the essence. Erica Finamore, wsj.com, 19 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tangled.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tangled was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near tangled

Cite this Entry

“Tangled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangled. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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