1
as in tangling
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trapping
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 complicating
to make complex or difficult
the history of Alexander the Great is entangled by variant accounts of his exploits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entangling
When that quantum task involved entangling qubits, quantum computers had an advantage over classical computers, as the classical program took ages to run.
—
Quanta Magazine,
3 June 2026
The rest — bottles, cups, ties, get washed into our oceans, entangling sea birds and when they get pulverized into microplastics, they’re eaten by sea turtles who often die.
—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
18 May 2026
Impulsive action bypasses deliberation, ignores consequences and risks entangling our nation in conflicts without an exit strategy.
—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
The causes were entangling secret alliances, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the ensuing diplomatic brinksmanship.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Last year’s dead leaves and branches, still not cleared away, lay on the ground, entangling our feet.
—
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Yet the same fisheries that drive economic value also generate high levels of bycatch, entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks in their operations.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office is set to begin training deputies on the Grappler system, a pursuit intervention device that disables a suspect's vehicle by entangling its tires rather than forcing a crash.
—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Brasília has pursued a strategy of diversifying partnerships to preserve its autonomy—maintaining cordial ties with all great powers while entangling with none.
—
Oliver Stuenkel,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Quanta Magazine,
3 June 2026
The rest — bottles, cups, ties, get washed into our oceans, entangling sea birds and when they get pulverized into microplastics, they’re eaten by sea turtles who often die.
—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
18 May 2026
Impulsive action bypasses deliberation, ignores consequences and risks entangling our nation in conflicts without an exit strategy.
—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
The causes were entangling secret alliances, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the ensuing diplomatic brinksmanship.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Last year’s dead leaves and branches, still not cleared away, lay on the ground, entangling our feet.
—
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Yet the same fisheries that drive economic value also generate high levels of bycatch, entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks in their operations.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office is set to begin training deputies on the Grappler system, a pursuit intervention device that disables a suspect's vehicle by entangling its tires rather than forcing a crash.
—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Brasília has pursued a strategy of diversifying partnerships to preserve its autonomy—maintaining cordial ties with all great powers while entangling with none.
—
Oliver Stuenkel,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entangling
Verb
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Its rear zipper pocket is a great way to keep charging cords from tangling around other items.
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Recently, researchers in Germany developed a chain-launching drone interceptor that disables UAVs by tangling their spinning rotors midair.
Verb
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While the 23-year-old was working in the trench, the trench collapsed, trapping him for a short while.
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Ventless hoods don't have ductwork and include a charcoal filter for trapping smoke and odors so that air can be recirculated.
Verb
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Scientists have not even fully determined which pollutants pose the greatest risks to firefighters, further complicating a choice.
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Opponents, however, see the measure as overly reliant on standardized testing that doesn’t account for complicating factors like poverty, class size and access to resources.
Verb
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His shot was saved by a diving Neuer, knotting the PKs at three apiece, giving Germany extra life and dragging the shootout on into sudden death.
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Seated cross-legged on the floor, the artisans work with such speed that their fingers blur, selecting, stretching and knotting individual strands into an intricate mesh.
Verb
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And in that quest for unbridled growth, the AI industry has wrested ungodly amounts of capital from investors all looking for the next big thing, ensnaring the entire economy.
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The upcoming April 7 vote over the renewal of Kansas City’s 1% earnings tax will mark one of the biggest tests of whether that opposition could risk ensnaring a critical resource for the city.
Verb
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Directed by Alice Winocour, the film follows an American filmmaker working during Paris Fashion Week who receives a life-altering breast cancer diagnosis, intertwining her story with those of a South Sudanese model and a makeup artist navigating their own pressures within the industry.
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Boston is a city of intertwining neighborhoods, where great restaurants aren’t exclusively the domain of tasting menus and white tablecloths.
Cite this Entry
“Entangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entangling. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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