1
as in tangling
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 trapping
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 complicating
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
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Recent Examples of entangling
Impulsive action bypasses deliberation, ignores consequences and risks entangling our nation in conflicts without an exit strategy.
—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
The causes were entangling secret alliances, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the ensuing diplomatic brinksmanship.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Last year’s dead leaves and branches, still not cleared away, lay on the ground, entangling our feet.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Yet the same fisheries that drive economic value also generate high levels of bycatch, entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks in their operations.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office is set to begin training deputies on the Grappler system, a pursuit intervention device that disables a suspect's vehicle by entangling its tires rather than forcing a crash.
—Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Brasília has pursued a strategy of diversifying partnerships to preserve its autonomy—maintaining cordial ties with all great powers while entangling with none.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
But the power can still be politically entangling.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Linking quantum computers to create powerful, high-speed quantum networks involves entangling atoms through a fiber cable.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
The causes were entangling secret alliances, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the ensuing diplomatic brinksmanship.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Last year’s dead leaves and branches, still not cleared away, lay on the ground, entangling our feet.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Yet the same fisheries that drive economic value also generate high levels of bycatch, entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks in their operations.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office is set to begin training deputies on the Grappler system, a pursuit intervention device that disables a suspect's vehicle by entangling its tires rather than forcing a crash.
—Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Brasília has pursued a strategy of diversifying partnerships to preserve its autonomy—maintaining cordial ties with all great powers while entangling with none.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
But the power can still be politically entangling.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Linking quantum computers to create powerful, high-speed quantum networks involves entangling atoms through a fiber cable.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangling
Verb
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Recently, researchers in Germany developed a chain-launching drone interceptor that disables UAVs by tangling their spinning rotors midair.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
-
Wrap cords using cable ties to prevent tangling and fraying.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That vomit accretes in layers across avian generations, trapping 50,000 years’ worth of data about the birds’ diet and the sea ice environment.—
Hannah Richter,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
Near the summit of Half Dome, on the infamous steel cables hikers use to ascend the final stretch of bare granite, another traffic jam formed, trapping people hundreds of feet in the air, according to social media posts.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Malaysia’s maritime agency says the transfers happen beyond its territorial waters and radar coverage, complicating enforcement efforts, while critics argue the nation is facilitating rather than merely tolerating the trade.—
Eileen Ng,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Because symptoms can take weeks to show up, additional cases could still emerge, complicating public health efforts to contact trace possible exposures and transmission chains.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Then Granlund, with assistance from the firm of Carlson and (Leo) Carlsson, netted his second power-play goal in two games, knotting the score from the right hashmarks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
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In the '90s, braiders primarily used synthetic hair, mainly because that’s what was widely available, but which came with its fair share of knotting and matting.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And in that quest for unbridled growth, the AI industry has wrested ungodly amounts of capital from investors all looking for the next big thing, ensnaring the entire economy.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
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The upcoming April 7 vote over the renewal of Kansas City’s 1% earnings tax will mark one of the biggest tests of whether that opposition could risk ensnaring a critical resource for the city.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Sculpture Park, with around 60 works from artists like Richard Serra, Alexander Calder, and George Trakas beautifully intertwining with nature, is another highlight.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
Amazon Freevee’s bilingual series followed the intertwining lives of various families in the farmlands of Northern California.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangling. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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