English Explanatory Dictionary

entangle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To tangle up; to twist or interweave in such a manner as not to be easily separated.
  2. To involve in such complications as to render extrication difficult.
  3. To ensnare.
  4. To involve in difficulties or embarrassments; to embarrass, puzzle, or distract by adverse or perplexing circumstances, interests, demands, etc.; to hamper; to bewilder.

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈtaŋ.ɡəl/ /ɛnˈtaŋ.ɡəl/ [ɛnˈtaŋ.ɡl̩] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-entangle.wav /ɪnˈtæŋ.ɡəl/

Word forms

entangle entangles entangling entangled entangel intangle

Etymology

From Middle English entanglen (“to involve [someone] in difficulty”, “to embarrass”). Equivalent to en- + tangle.

Synonyms

enmesh ensnare ensnarl entangle foul implicate imply involve mat ravel snarl tangle perplex bewilder puzzle addle baffle lose embroil stick stump baffound bamboozle bedevil befuddle throw bemud bemuse bumfuzzle complicate confound confuddle confuse confuzzle dazzle discombobulate disconcert blind dumbfound ferhoodle flabagast flabbergast flabbergaster flurry fluster flummox fuddle jumble knot mix up muddle muddy

Antonyms

disentangle unsnarl feeze tease out unravel untangle resolve unpuzzle absolve decipher get to the bottom of iron out meliorate puzzle out ravel reason out riddle sleuth solve think out unriddle unsolve upsolve work out Any from Thesaurus:untangle

Related words

entanglement entangler entangling

Derived words

entangleable entanglon hydroentangle interentangle unentangle

Translations

Catalan: enredar Czech: zapříst Czech: zaplést Danish: forvikle Dutch: verstrikken Dutch: verwikkelen Finnish: kietoa Finnish: sotkea Galician: enredar Galician: ensarillar Galician: embrollar Latin: illaqueō Lithuanian: įpainioti Polish: wikłać Polish: uwikłać Polish: wplątywać Polish: wplątać Romanian: a vârî în bucluc Romanian: încurca Scottish Gaelic: amail Slovak: popliesť Slovak: dopliesť Spanish: intrincar
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