as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
my mind's been in a tangle ever since I learned some disturbing information about an online acquaintance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to trap
to catch or hold as if in a net
was at last tangled in the web of lies that he had told to everyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to knot
to twist together into a usually confused mass
that darn cat tangled the yarn I was trying to knit with
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 tangle
Olivia Cigliano, Footwear News, 12 June 2025
In my experience, most sea salt sprays require some sort of trade-off: either tons of volume but tangles, or great wave definition but very little body.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, Glamour, 26 June 2025
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
One more tip: tie up the drawcords before washing so they don't get snagged or tangled.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tangle
Noun
Wet Brush: One editor loved using this hairbrush on wet and dry hair to tame tangles and organize strands.
—Olivia Cigliano, Footwear News, 12 June 2025
In my experience, most sea salt sprays require some sort of trade-off: either tons of volume but tangles, or great wave definition but very little body.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, Glamour, 26 June 2025
Verb
Corey Heim looked to be on his way to another dominant victory after leading 48 laps, but he was tangled up in an incident and finished 23rd on the day.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
One more tip: tie up the drawcords before washing so they don't get snagged or tangled.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangle
Noun
-
Amid uncertainty and confusion, people turn to leaders who promise to guide them out of darkness.—
Emi Eleode,
Time,
14 July 2025
-
Split oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to avoid regulatory confusion.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Lavigne had come home to help her sister and got trapped by the storm.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Officers and firefighters were dispatched to the 400 block of North Nettleton Street around 4 p.m. Sunday after reports of a house fire with people trapped inside.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The 32-year-old actor, who stars as the newest iteration of the Man of Steel, was photographed in Midtown Manhattan sporting a white tank top with a gray sweater knotted around his shoulders, a pair of white trousers, and black boots.—
Emlyn Travis Updated,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
-
An oversized shawl like this one at Amazon can be knotted and tied in several different ways, serving as a cover-up or beach dress, as well as a wrap for the plane.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Lifting the London fog A Burberry store at Fashion Valley, an upscale shopping mall, on Dec. 13, 2024, in San Diego, California.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
18 July 2025
-
Be sure to pay homage to John Steinbeck at Cannery Row in Monterey, then bundle up to cut through the fog in San Francisco.—
Jessie Beck,
AFAR Media,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangle. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share