as in confusions
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 traps
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 knots
to twist together into a usually confused mass
that darn cat tangled the yarn I was trying to knit with
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tangles
Sarah Felbin, Allure, 26 Apr. 2026
The microfiber-esque texture, Dyson says, allows for the cones to pick up hair without tangles.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
But his Hamlet needs a stalwart supporting cast with whom to spar, and Ahmed tangles beautifully with Shakespeare veteran Timothy Spall, who plays Laertes’ father and family adviser Polonius, and Morfydd Clark as a steely but vulnerable Ophelia.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Eisenberg plays a lot of acoustic guitar, sticks mostly to normie chords, and largely avoids dissonant tangles, opting for a bright, translucent sound.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
There were tangles of tubing that looked like ear anatomy gone berserk or a brass band in deep, deep trouble.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Chapek’s woes as Disney chief have been well documented, from his tangles in Florida to an ugly public spat with Scarlett Johansson to alienating top executives by removing creative decision-making authority in a hugely unpopular restructuring.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Fullness and body may come naturally, but so can long drying times, tangles, and frizz.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
Be wary of minor tangles, especially related to miscommunication.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
This can happen due to your natural hair texture, dryness, or environmental stressors like wind, friction from your pillowcase, or pollution—your cuticles can catch on each other like Velcro, Small says, causing tangles.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 26 Apr. 2026
The microfiber-esque texture, Dyson says, allows for the cones to pick up hair without tangles.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
But his Hamlet needs a stalwart supporting cast with whom to spar, and Ahmed tangles beautifully with Shakespeare veteran Timothy Spall, who plays Laertes’ father and family adviser Polonius, and Morfydd Clark as a steely but vulnerable Ophelia.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Eisenberg plays a lot of acoustic guitar, sticks mostly to normie chords, and largely avoids dissonant tangles, opting for a bright, translucent sound.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
There were tangles of tubing that looked like ear anatomy gone berserk or a brass band in deep, deep trouble.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Chapek’s woes as Disney chief have been well documented, from his tangles in Florida to an ugly public spat with Scarlett Johansson to alienating top executives by removing creative decision-making authority in a hugely unpopular restructuring.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Fullness and body may come naturally, but so can long drying times, tangles, and frizz.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
Be wary of minor tangles, especially related to miscommunication.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
Wire pin or slicker brushes work best for dogs with long hair that tangles easily.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangles
Noun
-
Before the Lost Weekend, John and Yoko had their New York Year — turning their personal confusions into beautifully vivid moments of rage and pain.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Holes are drilled at an upward angle, leading to a central chamber where the bees then fall into a glass jar that traps them.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
-
For hot sleepers or anyone dealing with night sweats, cotton’s moisture-wicking properties offer a real advantage over polyester, which traps heat and humidity against the skin.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No matter how many knots a lawyer ties themselves in to get there, legality is not legitimacy.—
Jon Duffy,
Mercury News,
29 Nov. 2025
-
Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over-the-counter pesticides and fogs will not do the job.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Barresi and Cuellar hold each other up with palpable tenderness, each one crafting a long, poignant arc from innocence through the fogs and thorns of experience.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Security snarls The TSA PreCheck line at terminal B in LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, on March 27, 2026.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond the red tape that snarls any new apartment, condominiums confront an additional hurdle.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tangles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangles. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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