tangle
1 of 3verb
tan·gle ˈtaŋ-gəl 
tangled; tangling ˈtaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ
transitive verb
1
: to unite or knit together in intricate confusion
2
: to involve so as to hamper, obstruct, or embarrass
3
: to seize and hold in or as if in a snare : entrap
intransitive verb
1
: to become entangled
2
: to interact in a contentious or conflicting way
tangle
2 of 3noun (1)
1
: a matted, twisted mass : snarl
2
a
: a complicated or confused state or condition
b
: a state of perplexity or complete bewilderment
3
: a serious altercation : dispute
4
: neurofibrillary tangle
tangle
3 of 3noun (2)
: a large seaweed
Synonyms
Verb
- catch up
- enmesh
- immesh
- ensnare
- ensnarl
- entangle
- entoil
- entrap
- mesh
- net
- snare
- trap
Noun (2)
- bafflement
- bamboozlement
- befuddlement
- bemusement
- bewilderedness
- bewilderment
- confusedness
- confusion
- discombobulation
- distraction
- fog
- head-scratching
- maze [chiefly dialect]
- muddle
- mystification
- perplexity
- puzzlement
- whirl
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb This fishing line tangles easily. was at last tangled in the web of lies that he had told to everyone
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English tanglen, tagilen, probably short for entanglen, from Anglo-French entagler, entangler to prosecute (for), implicate
Noun (2)
of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse thǫngull tangle, thang seaweed
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (1)
1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1536, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing tangle
Kids Definition
tangle 1 of 2
verb
tan·gle ˈtaŋ-gəl
tangled; tangling
: to twist or become twisted together into a mass that is hard to straighten out again
tangle
2 of 2noun
1
: a mass that is twisted together and hard to straighten
a tangle of yarn
a tangle of branches
2
: a complicated or confused state
Medical Definition
tangle
noun
tan·gle ˈtaŋ-gəl
: neurofibrillary tangle
tangles 1 of 2
noun
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
Relevance
- confusions
- fogs
- mazes
- perplexities
- mystifications
- distractions
- bewilderments
- puzzlements
- muddles
- whirls
- embarrassments
- discombobulations
- distresses
- bamboozlements
- discomforts
- bafflements
- dismays
- perturbations
- agitations
- head-scratchings
- befuddlements
- disturbances
- disquiets
- turmoils
- discomfitures
- bemusements
- mortifications
- upsets
- flusters
- commotions
- chagrins
- abashments
- flurries
- disconcertments
- dithers
- fusses
- stews
- bothers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- convictions
- assurances
- confidences
- certitudes
- certainties
tangles
2 of 2verb
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
- traps
- enmeshes
- meshes
- nets
- snares
- entraps
- ensnares
- entangles
- involves
- immeshes
- captures
- entoils
- ensnarls
- embroils
- collars
- implicates
- catches up
- bags
- mires
- birdlimes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- untangles
- disentangles
- detaches
- frees
- disengages
- liberates
- clears
- extricates
2
as in knots
to twist together into a usually confused mass that darn cat tangled the yarn I was trying to knit with Synonyms & Similar Words
- knots
- snarls
- jumbles
- braids
- intertwines
- weaves
- entangles
- plaits
- interlaces
- twines
- scrambles
- winds
- interweaves
- scrabbles
- entwines
- intertwists
- writhes
- enlaces
- inweaves
- entwists
- wreathes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- untangles
- untwists
- disentangles
- unravels
- untwines
- unscrambles
- unknots
- unsnarls
- unweaves
- reframing
- refranation
- refrangent
- refrangibilities
- refrangibility
- refrangible
- refrangibleness
- refrangiblenesses
- refreeze
- refreezes
- refreezing
- refrenation
- refresh
- refresh someone's memory
- refreshable
- refreshant
- refreshed
- refreshen
- refreshened
- refresheners
- refreshening
- refreshens
- refresher
- refresher course
- refreshers