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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entangle
As the whales migrate each year from calving grounds near Florida to foraging grounds near New England, they are often struck by passing boats or entangled in fishing gear, which can hurt or kill them.
—
Nate Iglehart, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
Set in contemporary New York, the film stars Denzel Washington as a music executive entangled in a kidnapping case.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 19 May 2025
The discovery offers significant insight into both Danish and Costa Rican history—as well as the stories of slavery that entangle them.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
Libya has been entangled in a political crisis since the overthrow of longtime dictator Gaddafi in 2011, which led to the proliferation of armed groups across the country.
—Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Nate Iglehart, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
Set in contemporary New York, the film stars Denzel Washington as a music executive entangled in a kidnapping case.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 19 May 2025
The discovery offers significant insight into both Danish and Costa Rican history—as well as the stories of slavery that entangle them.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
Libya has been entangled in a political crisis since the overthrow of longtime dictator Gaddafi in 2011, which led to the proliferation of armed groups across the country.
—Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangle
Verb
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The motifs and borders were knotted in red, blue, black and other shades of cream or natural wool.—
Dorothy Armstrong
June 18,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
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Trailing 10-6 to open the final frame, Park scored the first four goals of the fourth quarter, with Josie Leonard hitting Madi Brinkman for a transition goal to knot the game with seven minutes to play, less than a minute after the Wolfpack scored to trim their deficit to one.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
13 June 2025
Verb
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If not, neighbors, friends, or anyone nearby needs to know that they could be trapped.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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After the World Trade Center’s South Tower came crashing down around his ears on 9/11, trapping him under the rubble for several hours, retired Port Authority Police Department Sgt.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
Verb
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The answer is complicated, and the eight-episode series does a great job exploring the question from multiple perspectives, but overall, Burns has walked away from the experiment far less concerned that AI will ever become a successful screenwriter.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
13 June 2025
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Newsom did exactly that, but in response to criticism from Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins over how the Los Angeles protests are complicating the department’s services.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Eric Dane, who famously bathed with 2 women, now appears tangled up with 3.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2025
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Their two offspring — Cane (Jake Weary) and recovering addict Bree (Melissa Benoist) — are estranged and tangled up in a fishing net of relationship issues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
20 June 2025
Verb
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So much of the book is about family drama, but it’s enmeshed in criminal activity.—
Dwyer Murphy
June 6,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
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Some major media companies, including NPR, PBS and Walt Disney Co., have been enmeshed in legal maneuverings or threats to block crucial flowing of funding.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Because the truth is simple: our fates are intertwined.—
Maria Revelles,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
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The intention: To intertwine comfort with community, helping office employees maximize creativity and productivity.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Most horror flicks entrap their characters in one location or put them in some sort of unique, tense situation (think: satanic possession, or pissing off the wrong truck driver, attracting the wrong person, etc.), but in Final Destination, Death works with the great mundane canvas of ordinary life.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
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Early motherhood entraps them—and their children—in a bleak socioeconomic cycle that’s almost impossible to break.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Denver’s city council last month voted not to extend a contract with Flock, citing fears that its cameras would be used to ensnare and deport undocumented immigrants in the community.—
Kara Newhouse,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2025
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Some carnivorous plants ensnare insects and other small invertebrates, like the famous Venus flytraps of North Carolina and South Carolina’s marshes.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangle. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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