tangle

1 of 3

verb

tan·​gle ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce tangle (audio)
tangled; tangling ˈtaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tangle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to unite or knit together in intricate confusion
2
: to involve so as to hamper, obstruct, or embarrass
3
: to seize and hold in or as if in a snare : entrap

intransitive verb

1
: to become entangled
2
: to interact in a contentious or conflicting way

tangle

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a matted, twisted mass : snarl
2
a
: a complicated or confused state or condition
b
: a state of perplexity or complete bewilderment
3
: a serious altercation : dispute
4

tangle

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a large seaweed

Examples of tangle in a Sentence

Verb This fishing line tangles easily. was at last tangled in the web of lies that he had told to everyone
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The 8-foot fabric swivel cord is strong and wasn’t easily tangled. Enjanae' Taylor, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2023 The Browns star’s left knee got tangled and turned inward after he was hit by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick near the goal line during the second quarter of the game. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023 Related In first Republican presidential debate, candidates tangle over issues and Trump emerges unscathedHow a post-Civil War provision targeting Confederates is now being used to try to boot Trump off the ballotGuess who’s running for president from his basement now? Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023 Yet when international trade in goods surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, all those algorithms failed to keep supply chains from becoming seriously tangled. Marc Levinson, WSJ, 17 Sep. 2023 Is your furry companion's hair constantly tangled and matted? Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023 In places like New Jersey, offshore wind developers are facing lawsuits from these astroturf groups that are tangling up the process. Molly Taft, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2023 These breeds are known for their curly or wavy hair, which can easily become tangled if not properly cared for. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023 The two have tangled over their names, foreign policy and more, with no end in sight. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2023
Noun
Members of all communities agreed that a complex tangle of disputes needed to be addressed, especially those relating to land and local administration. Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2023 As suspicion weaves its web, eccentric personalities tangle. The Hub, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023 On a recent morning, Ángel Ortiz Rodríguez was slumped on a sofa in his apartment in Granada, in southern Spain, a tangle of breathing tubes protruding from his nose. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023 This month, a jet skier stumbled on a tangle of wrecked ships from World War I at the bottom of the Neches River in East Texas. Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 30 Aug. 2023 But maybe more fantastic than glittering squid and glowing, frilled fish are a group of animals that resemble nothing more than globs of gelatin or tangles of twine. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023 China is home to EV graveyards, where unwanted vehicles are rotting amid tangles of weeds. Dominic Pino, National Review, 23 Aug. 2023 Congress is poised this week to dive into an epic fight over spending, as the Senate for the first time in years puts appropriations bills on the floor for debate and Speaker Kevin McCarthy tries to find his way out of a complex funding tangle that could ultimately threaten his leadership post. Carl Hulse, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 An attorney steps in for immigration documentation and other work-life tangles. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tanglen, tagilen, probably short for entanglen, from Anglo-French entagler, entangler to prosecute (for), implicate

Noun (2)

of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse thǫngull tangle, thang seaweed

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun (1)

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1536, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tangle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tangle

Cite this Entry

“Tangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangle. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

tangle

1 of 2 verb
tan·​gle ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce tangle (audio)
tangled; tangling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tangle (audio)
1
: to make or become involved so as to complicate or confuse : be or become entangled
2
: to twist or become twisted together into a mass hard to straighten out again

tangle

2 of 2 noun
1
: a tangled twisted mass (as of vines or hairs) confusedly woven together : snarl
2
: a complicated or confused state or condition

Medical Definition

tangle

noun
tan·​gle ˈtaŋ-gəl How to pronounce tangle (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on tangle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!