ENTANGLE Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

entangle

verb

in-ˈtaŋ-gəl

Definition of entangle

as in to knot

to twist together into a usually confused mass in the process of taking down the Christmas tree, we managed to entangle the string of lights into a hopeless mess of wires

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to trap

to catch or hold as if in a net the young runaway gradually became entangled in a web of lies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to complicate

to make complex or difficult the history of Alexander the Great is entangled by variant accounts of his exploits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of entangle After the referees blew the whistle dead in the fourth quarter, Clark and Bonner got entangled in an exchange of words. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 By the weekend, the heat will become increasingly entangled with an advancing cold front pushing in from the Midwest, setting the stage for a transition zone of storms and heavy rain. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 26 June 2026 Irwin becomes entangled with the Russian mob after embarking on a get-rich-quick scheme to clean up the Gowanus Canal, and his former cop brother, Gary, is the only one who can get him out of trouble. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 June 2026 There have also been concerns that some rights to to titles in its extensive library are entangled or shared with other entities — something the company has pushed back on in the past. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for entangle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangle

Verb

But Belgium stormed back, stunning Senegal with goals in the 86th and 89th minutes of regulation to knot it up at 2-2.

— Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
But Sierra won enough both to knot the match and to come within inches of sealing it.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of knot

Verb

Swarms of inexpensive drones could complicate enemy defenses, conduct reconnaissance, carry out strike missions, and support larger operations more efficiently than relying solely on premium unmanned aircraft.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026
His quest is complicated by court intrigue, romance with Queen Deianira, and supernatural threats, culminating in encounters with mythical creatures, including the Hydra.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of complicate

Verb

He was tossed from the game during the 64th minute after he got tangled up with Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic.

— Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
On this day in 1897, during the launch from Dane’s Island, part of the Svalbard archipelago, about 600 miles from their target, the ropes tangled and either fell off or were cut off.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 July 2026

Definition of tangle

Verb

Lively’s legal team said the law requires reimbursement for the defense of the litigation because the legal work on the various claims was intertwined.

— Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 9 July 2026
What begins as a history play transforms into a sharp-eyed satire about the cost of assimilation in a society where money, power and white privilege remain stubbornly intertwined.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of intertwine

Verb

There were 27 people inside the store at the time, including two who became partially entrapped but were able to free themselves and safely leave, according to local authorities.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Attorneys Abigail Becker and Victor Van Dyke, with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, convinced the jury Yener was entrapped by federal agents.

— Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of entrap

Verb

The operation, ProPublica found, ensnared innocent residents of the majority-Black city who said they were targeted and harassed because of their race.

— Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
By 2014, the Honeywells and their compound were ensnared in local controversy.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026

Definition of ensnare

Browse Nearby Words

entails

entangle

entangled

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Style

“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangle. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of entangle

verb

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