entangle
verb
en·tan·gle in-ˈtaŋ-gəl 
en-
entangled; entangling; entangles
transitive verb
1
a
: to wrap or twist together : interweave
b
: ensnare
2
a
: to involve in a perplexing or troublesome situation
became entangled in a lawsuit
b
: to make complicated
the story is entangled with legends
entangler
in-ˈtaŋ-g(ə-)lər
noun en-
Synonyms
- interlace
- intertwine
- intertwist
- interweave
- knot
- snarl
- tangle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
in the process of taking down the Christmas tree, we managed to entangle the string of lights into a hopeless mess of wires the young runaway gradually became entangled in a web of lies
Recent Examples on the Web Multiple criminal cases entangle Bannon: Trump ally's legal troubles from the border wall fund to Jan. 6 contempt. 
Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 Sharp, sudden dropoffs and debris under the water can startle or entangle people, Werneth said, leading to panic and drowning. Forrest Brown, CNN, 3 July 2022 Above this threshold, the chains crumple like paper and entangle with each other to create a tint, scattering near-infrared and visible light. Brittney J. Miller, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2022 The school district said the coach’s prayers violated its policies, rooted in a concern that such a high-profile, public prayer by a public employee would entangle the district with religion. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2022 Waters free from whalers now brim with ships that strike them, and ropes that entangle them. Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Apr. 2022 School districts have shared concerns that the new state law could entangle them in a legal fight over differing interpretations of the law. Stephen Gruber-miller And Ian Richardson, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2022 Football is over, and baseball has none of the exposure to international politics that entangle the NBA with China or the NHL with Russian players. Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, 11 Mar. 2022 Birds, fish and whales are unlikely to suffer much harm from the Block Island wind farm, but no one knows how a thousand turbines might affect those creatures, especially floating turbines, whose cables could potentially entangle large whales. Elizabeth Royte, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2022 See More
Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 Sharp, sudden dropoffs and debris under the water can startle or entangle people, Werneth said, leading to panic and drowning. Forrest Brown, CNN, 3 July 2022 Above this threshold, the chains crumple like paper and entangle with each other to create a tint, scattering near-infrared and visible light. Brittney J. Miller, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2022 The school district said the coach’s prayers violated its policies, rooted in a concern that such a high-profile, public prayer by a public employee would entangle the district with religion. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2022 Waters free from whalers now brim with ships that strike them, and ropes that entangle them. Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Apr. 2022 School districts have shared concerns that the new state law could entangle them in a legal fight over differing interpretations of the law. Stephen Gruber-miller And Ian Richardson, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2022 Football is over, and baseball has none of the exposure to international politics that entangle the NBA with China or the NHL with Russian players. Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, 11 Mar. 2022 Birds, fish and whales are unlikely to suffer much harm from the Block Island wind farm, but no one knows how a thousand turbines might affect those creatures, especially floating turbines, whose cables could potentially entangle large whales. Elizabeth Royte, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French entangler — more at tangle entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
entangle
verb
en·tan·gle in-ˈtaŋ-gəl
entangled; entangling
1
: to make tangled or confused
Don't entangle the ropes.
2
: to catch in a tangle
Birds were entangled in the net.
entangle
verb
1
as in to tangle
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
Relevance
- tangle
- knot
- intertwine
- snarl
- jumble
- weave
- interweave
- interlace
- braid
- entwine
- twine
- scramble
- plait
- intertwist
- writhe
- wind
- scrabble
- enlace
- entwist
- inweave
- wreathe
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disentangle
- untangle
- unravel
- untwist
- unsnarl
- unknot
- untwine
- unscramble
- unweave
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
- tangle
- trap
- enmesh
- ensnare
- entrap
- mesh
- snare
- net
- involve
- capture
- immesh
- implicate
- embroil
- catch up
- ensnarl
- entoil
- birdlime
- collar
- mire
- bag
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disentangle
- extricate
- detach
- untangle
- disengage
- liberate
- free
- clear
3
as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult the history of Alexander the Great is entangled by variant accounts of his exploits Synonyms & Similar Words
- complicate
- complex
- perplex
- intensify
- embarrass
- complexify
- confuse
- expand
- tangle
- elaborate
- sophisticate
- develop
- muddle
- confound
- snarl
- magnify
- mix (up)
- mess (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simplify
- streamline
- cut
- facilitate
- shorten
- unravel
- ease
- disentangle
- untangle
- abbreviate
- straighten (out)
- oversimplify