as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
my mind's been in a tangle ever since I learned some disturbing information about an online acquaintance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to trap
to catch or hold as if in a net
was at last tangled in the web of lies that he had told to everyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to knot
to twist together into a usually confused mass
that darn cat tangled the yarn I was trying to knit with
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tangle
Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
Look for clips made of strong, thick metals and that is on a swivel for tangle reduction.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
McDavid appeared to catch an edge early in the second period after getting tangled up with teammate Mattias Ekholm and the Ducks' Ian Moore.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tangle
Noun
Plus, its tangle-free brush system has self-adjusting rubber brushes to prevent clogging — a convenient detail that could have wrangled both my husky’s fur and my long hair.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
Look for clips made of strong, thick metals and that is on a swivel for tangle reduction.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
At the final horn Cerda and Milwaukee’s Walls got tangled up.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
McDavid appeared to catch an edge early in the second period after getting tangled up with teammate Mattias Ekholm and the Ducks' Ian Moore.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tangle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangle
Noun
-
Invite someone in, agree on a clear next step, and follow through together so momentum builds without confusion or mixed signals.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The victim, who has not been identified, suffered severe crushing injuries to his lower limbs after becoming trapped in a lifting system, local fire authorities told Reuters, citing eyewitness accounts.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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Use a damp microfiber cloth to trap particles instead of just pushing them to the next surface.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Then Granlund, with assistance from the firm of Carlson and (Leo) Carlsson, netted his second power-play goal in two games, knotting the score from the right hashmarks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
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However, the advantage was short lived as Indianapolis knotted the score in the bottom of the frame and then added the decisive tally one inning later.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These sensors enable real-time monitoring across a wide range of conditions, including low light, fog, and obstructed environments, while onboard AI and machine-learning classifiers help identify and flag potential threats.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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His 2025 tape, WOMB, embodied this through his pensive grumbles over wispy vocal chops; each bar that cut through the fog was steeped in sober gravitas.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangle. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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