Synonyms for entangle
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Embroil — to ensnare
embroil, confuse, complicate, bewilder, confound, perplex, encumber, befuddle, perturb, embarrass, jumble, muddle, dazzle, hamper, fluster, fuddle, muddy, puzzle, flurry, addle, disconcert, flummox
2. Ensnare — to tangle up; to twist or interweave in such a manner as not to be easily separated
ensnare, tangle, entrap, snarl, intertwine, interweave, snare, catch, matt UK, mat US, matte US, foul, enmesh, ensnarl, dishevel, inveigle dated
3. Implicate — to involve in difficulties or embarrassments; to embarrass, puzzle, or distract by adverse or perplexing…
Other
Definitions
- v. 1
To tangle up; to twist or interweave in such a manner as not to be easily separated.
The dolphins became entangled in a fishing net.
- v. 2
To ensnare.
- v. 3
To involve in difficulties or embarrassments; to embarrass, puzzle, or distract by adverse or perplexing circumstances, interests, demands, etc.; to hamper; to bewilder.
The story entangles the facts with value judgments.
Related words
- Word family
- entanglement
Forms
- Past participle
- entangled
e.g. entangled → embroiled, confused, complicated, bewildered…
Example sentences
- confuse One should not confuse education with job training.
- complicate Don't complicate the problem by raising new issues.
- tangle I wish I could tangle your hair into beautiful braids.
- ensnare The car dealer tried to ensnare me in extra options.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| entangle | rising | |
| confuse | steady | |
| complicate | rising | |
| bewilder | steady | |
| embroil | steady | |
| tangle | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- mat1
- 4 letters
- matt1, foul1, mire1
- 5 letters
- catch1, muddy2, matte1, snare1, snarl1, addle2
- 6 letters
- puzzle2, hamper2, flurry2, tangle2, dazzle2, jumble2, muddle2, entrap2, fuddle2, enmesh2
- 7 letters
- involve2, confuse2, ensnare2, perplex2, perturb2, fluster2, embroil2, flummox2, ensnarl2
- 8 letters
- confound2, bewilder3, encumber3, befuddle3, inveigle, dishevel3
- 9 letters
- embarrass3, implicate3
- 10 letters
- complicate3, intertwine3, interweave3, disconcert3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (muddy2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- empêtrer
- Italiano
- impigliare
- Español
- enredar
- Deutsch
- einwickeln
- Català
- embolicar