Synonyms
Verb
Noun (2)
Examples of tangle in a Sentence
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
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
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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
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
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
Phrases Containing tangle
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.
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Kids Definition
tangle
2 of 2 noun
Medical Definition
tangle
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on tangle
Nglish: Translation of tangle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tangle for Arabic Speakers
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