1
as in trapping
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knotting
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 tangling
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
The large brush roll resists tangling hair and pet fur, which eliminates the need to stop and pull items off the brush—and also eliminates a clogged pipe.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Its cleaner head can deep-clean all floor types, including carpeting, and boasts a de-tangling design that prevents hair wrap.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
The Suncast resin hose hideaway prevents cracking, tangling and freezing as temperatures drop.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
But Pynchon is also funny, and the disorientation of his novels gives ways to discovery, and un-tangling, and the characters have goofy names that allude to their archetypal nature.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
The parachute relies on a single suspension line rather than many cords, which reduces tangling and speeds up deployment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Traditional bristles are replaced by silicone fins on the brushroll to achieve a more thorough clean and to prevent hair from tangling around the roller.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
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
The large brush roll resists tangling hair and pet fur, which eliminates the need to stop and pull items off the brush—and also eliminates a clogged pipe.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Its cleaner head can deep-clean all floor types, including carpeting, and boasts a de-tangling design that prevents hair wrap.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
The Suncast resin hose hideaway prevents cracking, tangling and freezing as temperatures drop.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
But Pynchon is also funny, and the disorientation of his novels gives ways to discovery, and un-tangling, and the characters have goofy names that allude to their archetypal nature.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
The parachute relies on a single suspension line rather than many cords, which reduces tangling and speeds up deployment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Traditional bristles are replaced by silicone fins on the brushroll to achieve a more thorough clean and to prevent hair from tangling around the roller.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangling
Verb
-
Climate risk is trapping value in place.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In September, while fighting a fire, a garage collapsed, trapping and badly injuring the 27-year-old.—
Ginger Allen,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Tangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangling. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
