entangle

verb en·tan·gle \ in-ˈtaŋ-gəl , en- \

|Updated on: 2 Aug 2018

Examples: entangle in a Sentence

Definition of entangle

entangled; entangling; entangles

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

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entangler

play \in-ˈtaŋ-g(ə-)lər, en-\ noun

See entangle defined for English-language learners

See entangle defined for kids

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 of entangle from the Web

Buy Photo A rescue team has saved a juvenile humpback whale that had been entangled in a line for months in an operation Wednesday off the New Jersey coast, the federal fisheries agency said Thursday.

— joseph a. gambardello, Philly.com, "Rescue team saves entangled humpback whale off New Jersey coast," 12 July 2018
Cabrera made Wollschlager his second-in-command, despite being entangled in the 2014 internal investigation.

— charles rabin, jay weaver and david ovalle, miamiherald, "The chief wanted perfect stats, so cops were told to pin crimes on blacks, probe found," 12 July 2018
On Saturday in Sterling Heights, a 20-year-old man died after being entangled in vegetation while swimming.

— deasia paige, Detroit Free Press, "Dearborn man drowns in Silver Lake in west Michigan," 2 July 2018
Days after getting entangled in dating speculation triggered by Drake's new album, Bella Hadid reportedly spent time with her famous former flame, The Weeknd (AKA Abel Tesfaye).

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Bella Hadid and The Weeknd Reportedly Snuggled on a Dinner Date," 2 July 2018
Eventually, Maggie discovers that the original attack was part of a much larger scheme, and Maggie has been unknowingly entangled in it for much of her life.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "Trail of Lightning is a breathtaking Native American urban fantasy adventure," 26 June 2018
Ethics experts have said that a standing exemption for the mayor could increase the risk that she could be accused of being entangled in a conflict.

— ian duncan, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore city solicitor first pitched ethics exemption to allow mayor's staff and agency heads to raise money," 18 May 2018
The Anchorage parking and redevelopment authority has signed a deal to buy the office building on Fourth Avenue that briefly housed state legislative offices before being entangled in a legal fight.

— devin kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "Abandoned Anchorage legislative offices will be bought by local redevelopment authority," 12 May 2018
The syndrome is rare; strands of the amniotic sac separate and entangle digits, limbs, or other parts of the developing fetus.

— paulina dedaj, Fox News, "Seattle Seahawks draft one-handed linebacker in the 5th round," 28 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'entangle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.