tangle

1 of 3

verb

tan·​gle ˈtaŋ-gəl 

tangled; tangling ˈtaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

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

: neurofibrillary tangle

tangle

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a large seaweed

Synonyms of tangle

Verb

• trap

Noun (2)

• confusion
• fog

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

Noun (2)

my mind's been in a tangle ever since I learned some disturbing information about an online acquaintance

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Dunn got tangled up with defenders, and Clemson got possession of the ball with four seconds on the clock. —Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026

And despite lacking drawstrings that might get tangled in the wash, its generously-sized hood covers and stays up on my daughter’s big head (99th percentile, thank you very much). —The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026

Noun

To him, the vision seemed right — not in the specific locations activated by various themes but in the sense that our neuroanatomy did seem to parse the world by subject, tangles and folds of neurons lighting up in response to clouds of ideas. —Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026

He was involved in assembling Epstein's complex web of businesses, properties and legal teams for a voluminous tangle of civil and criminal matters. —Graham Kates, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

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)

circa 1540, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tangle

• neurofibrillary tangle
• tangle with

Rhymes for tangle

• angle
• bangle
• dangle
• jangle
• mangle
• strangle
• wrangle
• disentangle
• entangle
• quadrangle
• triangle
• untangle

Kids Definition

tangle

1 of 2 verb

tan·​gle ˈtaŋ-gəl 

tangled; tangling -g(ə-)liŋ 

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 

: neurofibrillary tangle