1
as in knots
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
2
as in traps
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 complicates
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 entangles
The net opens mid-air, entangles the drone and deploys a parachute so everything comes down safely.
—
Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
But when a tree entangles with your plumbing, feelings can change.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
The darkly comic story follows Shy and Lola, two very different women who are forced to become allies when a murder entangles them in the criminal underworld operating in Shy’s small coastal town in the North of England.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
That one from Baby Reindeer maker Clerkenwell Films follows two women forced to become allies when a murder entangles them in the criminal underworld operating in Shy’s small coastal town in the North of England.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
The offering further entangles Musk’s various business ventures.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 2 Feb. 2026
Initially dismissed as an accident, Charles, Oliver and Mabel dive headfirst into the investigation, uncovering a sprawling conspiracy that stretches beyond the building’s walls and entangles New York’s old mob families with its newest billionaires.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Recognize how your energy entangles with your team, and create field conditions for inevitable success.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
But when a tree entangles with your plumbing, feelings can change.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
The darkly comic story follows Shy and Lola, two very different women who are forced to become allies when a murder entangles them in the criminal underworld operating in Shy’s small coastal town in the North of England.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
That one from Baby Reindeer maker Clerkenwell Films follows two women forced to become allies when a murder entangles them in the criminal underworld operating in Shy’s small coastal town in the North of England.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
The offering further entangles Musk’s various business ventures.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 2 Feb. 2026
Initially dismissed as an accident, Charles, Oliver and Mabel dive headfirst into the investigation, uncovering a sprawling conspiracy that stretches beyond the building’s walls and entangles New York’s old mob families with its newest billionaires.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Recognize how your energy entangles with your team, and create field conditions for inevitable success.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangles
Verb
-
No matter how many knots a lawyer ties themselves in to get there, legality is not legitimacy.—
Jon Duffy,
Mercury News,
29 Nov. 2025
-
Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His handle is both his redeeming trait and what traps him in the half court.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Clear Overgrowth Remove dense vegetation up against the house, which traps moisture and creates a cozy habitat for termites.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This inconsistency complicates analysis and may be intentional, amplifying deterrent perception.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Political rhetoric often further complicates the picture.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wire pin or slicker brushes work best for dogs with long hair that tangles easily.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Crude prices have spiked to their highest levels in at least 14 years as the war, now in its second week, ensnares countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Harvard University’s former president Larry Summers will resign from the school over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, as the scandal increasingly ensnares figures in academia.—
Tasneem Nashrulla,
semafor.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Belarus now imprisons 28 journalists as President Lukashenko intensifies a crackdown on press freedom.—
Yuras Karmanau,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Ogles' comments, made on the first day of House Republicans' annual week-long policy retreat in Doral, Florida, also came as the war in Iran rapidly intensifies.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In an old-growth forest, the beauty of old trees intertwines with the bodies of those trying to save them, creating something numinous.—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Anchored by Tainy’s masterful production, the song’s undulating reggaetón foundation intertwines with futuristic electronic textures, giving it a glimmering pulse.—
Natalia Cano,
Billboard,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This superb thriller about an obsessed fan (Kathy Bates) who rescues, and then entraps, a best-selling author (James Caan) still stands as an edge-of-your-seat experience.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entangles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangles. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
