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
Recently, researchers in Germany developed a chain-launching drone interceptor that disables UAVs by tangling their spinning rotors midair.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
Wrap cords using cable ties to prevent tangling and fraying.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
Its hot water wash dissolves stubborn grease on the mop pads, while its specialized Curv design prevents long hair from tangling around the brushes.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The instinctive Moon opposes jovial Jupiter, tangling your 10th House of Ambition with your 4th House of Comfort.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
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
Using a cooling rack over water to propagate houseplants can help prevent root rot and tangling.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
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
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
Wrap cords using cable ties to prevent tangling and fraying.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
Its hot water wash dissolves stubborn grease on the mop pads, while its specialized Curv design prevents long hair from tangling around the brushes.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The instinctive Moon opposes jovial Jupiter, tangling your 10th House of Ambition with your 4th House of Comfort.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
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
Using a cooling rack over water to propagate houseplants can help prevent root rot and tangling.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangling
Verb
-
The star ingredients of Skintimate’s Fragrance Free 2-in-1 Shave Oil + Moisturizer are ideal for creating just that, pairing vitamin E—which is both a water-attracting humectant and water-trapping emollient—along with shea, almond, and jojoba oils.—
Eden Stuart,
Allure,
29 May 2026
-
People rely on the Amazon for water and the hotter, drier conditions should increase wildfire risk, Seabrook said, threatening to turn the Amazon, which now sucks heat-trapping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, into a region that worsens the problem.—
Seth Borenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Rybakina staged a comeback midway through the third set, knotting the score at 4-4 from 3-0 down.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Surprisingly the most expensive hairpiece so far has been Attenborough’s, which Fortune reveals was a hybrid of a cheap £20 ($26) wig at the back combined with tens of man-hours knotting individual strands of hair onto a lace front to create the centenarian’s familiar pate.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangling. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
