1
as in to knot
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trap
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 to complicate
to make complex or difficult
the history of Alexander the Great is entangled by variant accounts of his exploits
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entangle
From the outset, however, American leaders were wary of becoming permanently entangled in European security affairs.
—
Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Trump extends TikTok ban deadline for a third time
TikTok’s fate has since entangled in US-China trade talks, though there appears to be little political appetite to force a sale or shut it down in the US.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 20 June 2025
The energy utility has become entangled in other statewide battles.
—Olivia Diaz, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Plastic bags can also entangle wildlife, keeping hatchling sea turtles from reaching the ocean and shading coral reefs, all of which can lead to disease and death for marine species.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Trump extends TikTok ban deadline for a third time
TikTok’s fate has since entangled in US-China trade talks, though there appears to be little political appetite to force a sale or shut it down in the US.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 20 June 2025
The energy utility has become entangled in other statewide battles.
—Olivia Diaz, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Plastic bags can also entangle wildlife, keeping hatchling sea turtles from reaching the ocean and shading coral reefs, all of which can lead to disease and death for marine species.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for entangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangle
Verb
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This premise reminds me a bit of George R. Stewart’s Storm, but with a more folkloric spin: a creative way to examine how humanity and nature relate, and how all life is knotted together.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
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In 1981, the battered body of a closeted gay Catholic priest was discovered in the Sage and Sand Motel in Odessa, Texas, his arms knotted behind his back.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
21 June 2025
Verb
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Lavigne had come home to help her sister and got trapped by the storm.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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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
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The case presents a unique test of NIL outside the college sports landscape and in a setting where a player contract and collective bargaining agreements complicate the situation.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
7 July 2025
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This exhaustive scientific work is complicated by ongoing legal and ethical concerns.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
Verb
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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
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Both work together to pick up debris and ensure that no hair gets tangled up in the vacuum.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
3 July 2025
Verb
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The results showed that students with low differentiation — those who were more emotionally enmeshed with others — experienced higher social anxiety, fear of judgment, stress and more somatic symptoms like headaches, fatigue or physical tension.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Gucci has been enmeshed with the sport since the debut of its first tennis sneaker in 1977.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Because the couple’s lives have been so intertwined over the past decade, the actor had a close relationship with Kenya’s late father, Quincy Jones.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 July 2025
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Fortune has also written the books One Golden Summer, This Summer Will Be Different, Meet Me at the Lake and Every Summer After — a whole lot of summer/lake fare, though none of those novels are intertwined.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Verb
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In February 2021, a Martian meteorite with the planet’s atmosphere entrapped in it went under the hammer at Christie’s auction house.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
2 July 2025
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And some white citizens tried to help the victims: In 1870, Otis Gibson, a missionary, established a home to which entrapped young women could flee.—
Steve Inskeep,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For decades, the lure of cartel cash has ensnared prosecutors, generals, mayors, governors — and even the country’s onetime top law enforcement honcho, Genaro García Luna, against whom Veytia testified in federal court in Brooklyn.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
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The fallout ensnared many prominent figures in the crypto world, including Scaramucci.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Entangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangle. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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