1
as in trapping
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knotting
to twist together into a usually confused mass
that darn cat tangled the yarn I was trying to knit with
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of tangling
Its hot water wash dissolves stubborn grease on the mop pads, while its specialized Curv design prevents long hair from tangling around the brushes.
—
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The instinctive Moon opposes jovial Jupiter, tangling your 10th House of Ambition with your 4th House of Comfort.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Forecasters warned that the storm's wind gusts could top 70 mph, uprooting trees and tangling power lines.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Using a cooling rack over water to propagate houseplants can help prevent root rot and tangling.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
This will help prevent tangling and stretching during the wash cycle.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Laces can be washed in the same load, ideally tucked into another laundry bag to prevent tangling.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
The large brush roll resists tangling hair and pet fur, which eliminates the need to stop and pull items off the brush—and also eliminates a clogged pipe.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Its cleaner head can deep-clean all floor types, including carpeting, and boasts a de-tangling design that prevents hair wrap.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
The instinctive Moon opposes jovial Jupiter, tangling your 10th House of Ambition with your 4th House of Comfort.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Forecasters warned that the storm's wind gusts could top 70 mph, uprooting trees and tangling power lines.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Using a cooling rack over water to propagate houseplants can help prevent root rot and tangling.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
This will help prevent tangling and stretching during the wash cycle.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Laces can be washed in the same load, ideally tucked into another laundry bag to prevent tangling.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
The large brush roll resists tangling hair and pet fur, which eliminates the need to stop and pull items off the brush—and also eliminates a clogged pipe.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Its cleaner head can deep-clean all floor types, including carpeting, and boasts a de-tangling design that prevents hair wrap.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangling
Verb
-
Artificial lights disrupt this carefully tuned internal navigation system, throwing birds off their path and even trapping them in bright beams.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Porte + Hall’s durable, dirt-trapping entryway rug.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
23 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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In the '90s, braiders primarily used synthetic hair, mainly because that’s what was widely available, but which came with its fair share of knotting and matting.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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