as in confusions
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in traps
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 knots
to twist together into a usually confused mass
that darn cat tangled the yarn I was trying to knit with
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tangles
Caché McClay, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Having the best brush for your dog will keep its coat free of tangles and might even prevent a big bill at the groomer’s.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Oxidative stress may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease by boosting the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles within the brain.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Edge to edge cleaning provided a thorough dust and dirt removal process, and there were no tangles thanks to the detangling brush, which eliminated the need to stop and remove trapped hair.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2025
These tangles grow into 30–40 nm particles.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
It’s built to resist pesky tangles, power through daily messes with super-strong suction, and run up to 50 minutes on a single charge.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
And not just vague signs, actual amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the same hallmarks seen in human patients.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
There are piles of rubble and tangles of cable.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
After spraying this before a braid takedown, my hair was visibly softer and easier to mange through tangles.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Having the best brush for your dog will keep its coat free of tangles and might even prevent a big bill at the groomer’s.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Oxidative stress may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease by boosting the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles within the brain.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Edge to edge cleaning provided a thorough dust and dirt removal process, and there were no tangles thanks to the detangling brush, which eliminated the need to stop and remove trapped hair.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2025
These tangles grow into 30–40 nm particles.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
It’s built to resist pesky tangles, power through daily messes with super-strong suction, and run up to 50 minutes on a single charge.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
And not just vague signs, actual amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the same hallmarks seen in human patients.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
There are piles of rubble and tangles of cable.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangles
Noun
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Before the Lost Weekend, John and Yoko had their New York Year — turning their personal confusions into beautifully vivid moments of rage and pain.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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My favorite is the Turtle Fur Totally Tubular—100 percent merino wool that traps heat better than fleece while staying breathable, keeping me warm even in sudden snow or chilly winds.—
Ariana Dickson,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
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The tragic death of the Sepulveda family patriarch calls his descendants back to Villa Sepulveda, a Spanish colonial manor in a coconut plantation; but a landslide traps the guests inside, transforming the funeral plans into a supernatural reckoning of sins.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
Cite this Entry
“Tangles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangles. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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