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
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 entangling
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
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
-
This will help prevent tangling and stretching during the wash cycle.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Laces can be washed in the same load, ideally tucked into another laundry bag to prevent tangling.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Heat-trapping gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas are the major cause of worsening global warming, scientists say.—
Seth Borenstein,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
One side of the disk has an extended and brighter dust emission, which could be the result of a disturbance, possibly a vortex, that is trapping solids.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Further complicating the case was the revelation from San Jose police in November 2023 that McNamara participated in a trove of racist text messages sent between him and an active SJPD officer and a separate former officer.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
This is a design that serves your rhythms instead of complicating them.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jumpers with long hair often wear a buff, which is a cloth under their helmet to keep hair from tangling with equipment or knotting in the wind gusts, Stewart explained.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
13 Nov. 2025
-
Among our artisans are former OB-GYNs, judges and software engineers now knotting rugs to feed families.—
Nargis Habib,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Montespan’s rivals accused her of ensnaring the king using the dark art of potions.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Out of her depth, Diane digs deeper into the investigation, her determination to uncover the truth revealing a web of corruption and danger at the highest levels, ensnaring Diane, her family and all those around her.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The film explores the profound themes of intergenerational trauma and the presence of the gaze of death, intertwining these women.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Populist threats to democracy and energy, climate, migration, and security challenges are intertwining in ways that test the capacity of governments everywhere.—
EKREM IMAMOGLU,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangling. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
