entanglement

noun

en·​tan·​gle·​ment in-ˈtaŋ-gəl-mənt 

en-

1

a

: the action of entangling : the state of being entangled

b

: something that entangles, confuses, or ensnares

a project delayed by legal entanglements

2

: the condition of being deeply involved

their entanglement in politics

Synonyms of entanglement

• tangle
• trap
• labyrinth
• web
• maze

Examples of entanglement in a Sentence

his life is greatly complicated by his romantic entanglements

Recent Examples on the Web

Cassidy Teufel, deputy director at the coastal commission, said during a review of the project that seaweed farms use taut, rigid lines, not the loose fishing lines that are a leading cause of whale entanglements. — Amy Taxin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

The film concerns a bus full of French high-school seniors on a trip to Pompeii, where the long gaze of history meets their hormonal entanglements and a bunch of Freudian desire. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Demand remains strong as ever as global stock has dwindled due to our ongoing Middle East entanglement. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 10 Sep. 2026

The birds face mounting threats, including entanglement in fishing nets, plastic pollution, disease outbreaks and competition with fisheries for food. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing entanglement

• quantum entanglement