tangled

adjective

tan·​gled ˈtaŋ-gəld 

1

: existing in or giving the appearance of a state of utter disorder

2

: very involved : exceedingly complex

Synonyms of tangled

• complicated
• intricate
• complicate
• complex

Examples of tangled in a Sentence

it helps to have a lawyer to sort out the tangled contracts that home buyers typically have to contend with

Recent Examples on the Web

Make sure these aren't stored in a tangled mess that will result in breakage. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025

To reach the cats’ habitat, researchers had to tackle treacherous terrain in peat swamp forests, confronting chest-high waters and tangled mangroves. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Dec. 2025

Charlie’s rip-roaring account of the Helgoland conference surveys the tangled web of quantum interpretations that are in play. —Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025

No one wants to deal with tangled cords or missing adapters mid-vacation, and this best-selling Amazon case keeps everything from chargers to memory cards neatly in place. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tangled

• angled
• dangled
• fangled
• jangled
• mangled
• spangled
• strangled
• wrangled
• disentangled
• entangled
• newfangled
• untangled