enmesh

verb

en·​mesh in-ˈmesh How to pronounce enmesh (audio)
en-
variants or less commonly
enmeshed also immeshed; enmeshing also immeshing; enmeshes also immeshes

transitive verb

: to catch or entangle in or as if in meshes
deeply enmeshed in the plot
enmeshment noun

Examples of enmesh in a Sentence

soon after Eli Whitney had invented it, others copied his cotton gin, and he spent the rest of his life enmeshed in lawsuits trying to protect his invention
Recent Examples on the Web But Apple only sold about 4 million iPhones during that device’s first year on the market and now sells more than 200 million of them annually, so there is a history of what initially appears to be a niche product turning into something that becomes enmeshed in how people live and work. Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 3 Feb. 2024 In fairness, that could hardly be blamed on their running mates, though both become enmeshed in controversies. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024 Choosing among these maps is a legal matter for the court but enmeshed with politics. Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2024 Here, a pre-Jesus Jim Caviezel plays a WWII army soldier who enmeshes himself among the South Pacific locals before his commanding officer (Sean Penn) forces him back into bloody combat. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2024 Dexter King's life was enmeshed in his parents' civil rights legacy. Harold Maass, theweek, 23 Jan. 2024 The protagonist, English sailor John Blackthorne, is based on William Adams, the rare Westerner to successfully enmesh himself within the cloistered society. Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Feb. 2024 They are completely enmeshed, but Diana is clearly the sun—ambitious, reckless, prone to delusions of grandeur—and Bonnie the moon. Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2024 Jacob has enmeshed himself in the business with the dream of competing one day in the European Le Mans series. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enmesh.' 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

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enmesh was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near enmesh

Cite this Entry

“Enmesh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enmesh. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enmesh

verb
en·​mesh in-ˈmesh How to pronounce enmesh (audio)
: to entangle in or as if in meshes
was enmeshed in a series of disputes

More from Merriam-Webster on enmesh

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