to tangle

Examples

• All

• The dog got its leash tangled around a tree as it tried to chase the squirrel.

• My limbs got tangled up, and I almost ran into the person next to me.

  Academic text (1997)

• But then, I got tangled in my own net.

  Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)

• My arms would get tangled in it; I could not get it over my head.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Just months ago, little Winter was found tangled in the ropes of a crab trap.

  Dolphin Tale (2011)

• You must have gotten tangled up in some of the reeds.

  Jungle Woman (1944)

• Floundering off-balance, the two cops tumble to the floor, tangled together, thrashing to get free.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The strong horses bounded over the tangled ground, laboring hard, carrying the two elves steadily upward.

  Fiction book (1992)

• She found her headphones tangled in the bottom of her backpack after a long day.

• The kite got tangled in the branches of the tall tree, and we had to climb up to free it.

Synonyms

I

to intertwine

vsto tangle

46 5.4

Twist things together so they become joined or tangled

focuses more on disorderly mixing that makes things hard to straighten out

J

to jumble

vsto tangle

22 3.8

Mix things together in a confused way

implies actual twisting that causes difficulty in straightening or separating items

E

to entwine

vsto tangle

21 5.4

To twist things together, often like plants or rope

is the more general messy joining that emphasizes separation difficulty rather than pattern

E

to entangle

vsto tangle

6 4.9

Twist things together so they are hard to separate

is the common action of mixing or twisting that makes separation hard

I

to interlace

vsto tangle

6 5.1

To cross things like fingers or strings so they hold together

is less about neat crossing and more about messy, hard to untangle joining

S

to snarl

vsto tangle

6 7.1

To make something more confused or tangled

is mainly the physical twisting or mixing that causes separation difficulty

K

to knot

vsto tangle

2 6.5

To make something tangled and difficult to understand

is the general action of mixing or twisting that makes items difficult to separate

T

to twine

vsto tangle

1 4.1

To twist threads together or wind them around something

is about making items hard to separate rather than simply winding threads

C

to convolute

vsto tangle

1 8.4

Twist or coil together into a tight, tangled mass

is the simpler messy mixing that focuses on separation difficulty rather than complexity

M

to mat

vsto tangle

1 4.9

To become tangled into a thick mass, especially hair or fur

is broader, applying to many materials rather than forming a thick mass specifically

E

to entangle around

vsto tangle

1 6.4

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

is a broader twisting together that need not circle a single object

S

to snarl up

vsto tangle

• UK

1 7.8

Make things tangled or blocked so progress slows

describes the basic joining of items that makes them hard to straighten out

R

to ruddle

vsto tangle

• Archaic

9.9

To twist thin threads or wires together

is more about messy entwinement that makes separation difficult rather than neat braiding

R

to raddle

vsto tangle

• Archaic

9.9

To twist threads or branches together to make something stronger

focuses more on disorderly mixing that results in difficulty separating items

Antonyms

U

to untangle

10 3.5

To separate threads or cords that are twisted together

Phrasal Verbs

T

to tangle with

21 6.5

To get into a fight with another person or group

Compounds

S

sea tangle

• UK

6.8

A large brown seaweed that grows in cold water near the coast

T

tangle orchid

• Australian

9.9

An orchid with tangled roots, thin wiry stems, and small fragrant green flowers

How Tangled

to snarl

6 7.1

to entangle

6 4.9

to tangle

46 3.7

to entwine

21 5.4

to twist

231 1.7

Surface Forms

Etymology