1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult
the history of Alexander the Great is entangled by variant accounts of his exploits
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entangle
The aquarium says more than 86% of right whales become entangled at least once in their lives.
—
Neal Riley, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Two differing criminal factions want a load of cocaine, but when a poor farmer named Kaalayan (Guru Somasundaram) gets wind of it, his life briefly entangles with the crime bosses, resulting in a bloody final showdown and a delightful twist ending.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Ken Griffin In one of the most notable disagreements so far, Mamdani and Griffin became entangled in drama after the mayor announced his new pied‑à‑terre tax proposal aimed at wealthier residents in the city.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Glorious sculptures entangled in water spouts were erected across the city over the next century.
—Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Neal Riley, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Two differing criminal factions want a load of cocaine, but when a poor farmer named Kaalayan (Guru Somasundaram) gets wind of it, his life briefly entangles with the crime bosses, resulting in a bloody final showdown and a delightful twist ending.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Ken Griffin In one of the most notable disagreements so far, Mamdani and Griffin became entangled in drama after the mayor announced his new pied‑à‑terre tax proposal aimed at wealthier residents in the city.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Glorious sculptures entangled in water spouts were erected across the city over the next century.
—Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangle
Verb
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Game 1 Saint Paul knotted at 2-all through three innings before the visiting Storm Chasers put up four runs in the fourth and five more in the sixth to turn a tight game into a 12-4 blowout.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
19 June 2026
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Another guy was wearing a Knicks flag as a cape, two of its corners knotted at his throat.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Videos shared online showed guests and employees rushing to help those trapped beneath the fallen structure, with several people lifting sections of the metal frame before first responders arrived.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
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Lucy was trapped under the boat and died the next day in the hospital.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
Verb
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This unforeseen shift now complicates Milwaukee's efforts to acquire a substantial draft-heavy package for their superstar.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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Trump previously planned to hold a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in May but canceled plans because of poor weather that would have complicated the helicopter flight to the retreat.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Its rear zipper pocket is a great way to keep charging cords from tangling around other items.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
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The two top packs flew off, and the third tangled in the cinch rope and wound around Tootsie’s leg.—
Dolores Brown,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Stocks of companies enmeshed in the artificial-intelligence industry also jumped.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Nevertheless, Christianity was enmeshed in public life.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Verb
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So, when national identity becomes intertwined with politics, religion, race, culture, or geography, criticism of the nation can feel less like a disagreement about policy and more like a challenge to one's identity.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Weddings are where families intertwine, traditions get negotiated, conflicts surface, and new chapters begin.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The Grimm Brothers fairy tale follows a pair of famished siblings who get lost in the woods and entrapped by a child-eating witch, after stumbling upon her cottage made of candy.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
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Another one of the Tates’ lawyers filed a claim on Fisher’s behalf, accusing Hadley of entrapping him.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security awarded a contract to a company that makes a drone with massive nets to ensnare other drones.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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González's chief of staff Francisco Domenech is the latest to be ensnared in a high-profile investigation, following the resignation last month of Puerto Rico’s economic development chief Sebastián Negrón, who accused the administration of interfering with the agency's work.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangle. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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