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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entangling
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
German military drills last month in the northern port city of Hamburg demonstrated how like a spider, a large military drone shot a net at a smaller one in mid-flight, entangling its propellers and forcing it to the ground, where a robotic dog trotted over to seek possible explosives.
—Reuters, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
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
German military drills last month in the northern port city of Hamburg demonstrated how like a spider, a large military drone shot a net at a smaller one in mid-flight, entangling its propellers and forcing it to the ground, where a robotic dog trotted over to seek possible explosives.
—Reuters, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangling
Verb
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Forecasters warned that the storm's wind gusts could top 70 mph, uprooting trees and tangling power lines.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
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Using a cooling rack over water to propagate houseplants can help prevent root rot and tangling.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pick high-pile or plush bath mats to maximize the warmth-trapping properties and opt for moisture-absorbing, quick-drying materials like microfiber in this high-humidity, water-splashing space.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
27 Feb. 2026
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But scientists, including Beckmann, argue that using casualties from the road can be a more ethical alternative to trapping wild animals or euthanizing them to sample tissues.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Olympics include an extra complicating factor because the closing ceremony was scheduled immediately after the gold-medal game.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Mamdani cited the 28-30 inches of snow that fell, and pointed to the narrow streets on Staten Island as factors complicating the cleanup.—
Aziza Shuler,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Chicago won the period 35-29, erasing the deficit and knotting the game at 89 entering the fourth.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater nailed a 50-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in regulation, knotting it up at 30-all.—
Arnie Stapleton,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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More so, though, Levin took it upon himself to appeal directly to the person who wrote the note, at the very least cautioning them against ensnaring themselves in a federal crime.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
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That observation drove home for me how ensnaring this oppression must feel, how vast the spatial footprint of ICE’s boot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Set at the turn of the 19th century, the historical drama tells the intertwining stories of three characters.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
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This film presents a timely, global issue by intertwining it with a deeply personal experience and the hope that young love inspires.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangling. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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