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to enmesh

to enmesh

9 7.8
To catch something in a net or a difficult situation
  • verb
  • /ɪnˈmɛʃ/
translation icon : enredar
  • The lawyer warned her that if she wasn't careful, she might become enmeshed in a complicated legal battle.
  • become enmeshed
  • finds itself enmeshed
  • deeply enmeshed

Examples

  • The incumbent, one of the old man's allies, was enmeshed in a corruption scandal.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The job leads to a network of contacts that enmesh the immigrant in the social fabric.

    Academic text (1991)
  • But we are all enmeshed in a web of technology.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I also wanted to discuss this financial misunderstanding we're enmeshed in.

  • Tell me, James, how did you get enmeshed in the coils of the law?

  • All of the project workers were enmeshed in a variety of interdependent project relationships.

    Academic text (1997)
  • You'll find yourself enmeshed in a jungle with enemies coming at you from all sides.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • It starts off as one little thing, all of a sudden you're enmeshed in a situation.

  • Most importantly, Hale became enmeshed in personal and political scandals of his own.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Human rights contraventions are enmeshed in the postcolonial experiences of Australian Aboriginal peoples.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

to entangle
vsto enmesh
24 6.3

Involve someone in a difficult situation they cannot easily get out of

can also mean being caught physically in a web or trap
to ensnare
vsto enmesh
13 7.7

To trap someone or something, often by a trick when they are in a difficult situation

focuses more on becoming entangled physically or in complex circumstances
to entrap
vsto enmesh
8 7.2

To catch a person or animal by tricking them so they cannot escape

is less about trickery and more about becoming tangled or trapped
to mesh
vsto enmesh
3 4.8

To catch something in a net or web

adds the sense of becoming trapped in a difficult situation too
to net
vsto enmesh
3 3.6

To catch something by using a mesh

extends that physical catching sense to include complex situational trapping
to ensnarl
vsto enmesh
1 9.3

To catch something in a net or trap so it cannot move

is broader, applying to both tricky situations and literal catching
to entangle around
vsto enmesh
1 6.4

To twist something so it wraps around another thing and gets stuck

covers similar catching but also includes trapping within complex situations
to intermesh
vsto enmesh
7.4

To become tangled together like roots so parts are hard to separate

is more about catching or trapping an entity rather than mutual joining

Antonyms

337 1.0

To release someone or something that is held

12 4.9

To free someone from a difficult or confusing situation

How Entangled

to ensnare
13 7.7
to enmesh
9 7.8
to entangle
24 6.3
to tangle
46 3.7
to snag
2 3.6

Surface Forms

enmesh infinitive
enmeshed past
enmeshed past participle
enmeshing present participle
enmeshes third person singular

Morphology

enmesh = mesh (transparent) = en + mesh

The prefix 'en-' indicates causing to be in a state, combined with 'mesh', meaning to become entangled.

Etymology

The word enmesh breaks into en- meaning 'in' and mesh meaning 'net' or 'web'. So to enmesh someone is like putting them 'in a net', which is why it now means to catch or trap someone physically or in a complicated situation.