entangle
C1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To cause something to become caught or twisted in something else, making it difficult to free.
To involve someone or something in a complicated, difficult, or compromising situation from which it is hard to escape.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word often implies a state of complex, messy, and unwanted involvement. The focus is on the resulting state of being trapped, rather than the initial action of tangling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the word identically in terms of meaning and application.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal or literary contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
entangle [object] in [situation/thing]entangle [object] with [person/thing][object] be/become/get entangled in/withVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a tangled web (often used with 'weave')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes complex financial or legal involvements, e.g., 'The company became entangled in a costly lawsuit.'
Academic
Used in philosophy, social sciences, and physics (quantum entanglement) to describe interconnected, inseparable states.
Everyday
Used for physical objects (e.g., fishing line, wires) and metaphorical situations (e.g., relationships, lies).
Technical
Specific use in quantum physics ('quantum entanglement') and marine biology (animals caught in nets).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old fishing net had entangled a seabird.
- He didn't want to entangle himself in their marital disputes.
- Try not to entangle the Christmas lights when you put them away.
American English
- The weeds entangled the boat's propeller.
- The investigation entangled several city officials.
- She was careful not to entangle her personal life with her professional one.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Extremely rare. The adverb form is not standard.
American English
- N/A - Extremely rare. The adverb form is not standard.
adjective
British English
- The entangled vines made passage impossible.
- Their entangled finances made the divorce proceedings lengthy.
- He gave an entangled explanation that clarified nothing.
American English
- The entangled ropes took an hour to sort out.
- They had an entangled relationship full of drama.
- The case involved an entangled web of corporate shell companies.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The kitten got entangled in a ball of wool.
- My earphones are always entangled in my pocket.
- The climber's rope became entangled in the rocks.
- I don't want to entangle you in my personal problems.
- The two companies are financially entangled, so one's failure affects the other.
- The politician became entangled in a scandal from his past.
- The novel's plot is masterfully entangled, with every character's fate interconnected.
- Nations can become inextricably entangled in alliances that later prove burdensome.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'EN' (put into) + 'TANGLE' (a messy knot). You put something INTO a TANGLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLEXITY/DIFFICULTY IS A PHYSICAL TANGLE; INVOLVEMENT IS BEING TRAPPED IN A NET.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'запутывать' for simple confusion; 'entangle' implies physical or serious situational trapping. For 'confuse the facts', use 'confuse' or 'muddle'.
- The adjective 'entangled' is often better translated as 'запутанный' for situations, not 'спутанный' (for hair).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He entangled the problem.' (You entangle a *thing/person* *in* a problem.)
- Incorrect: 'The wires are entangled together.' (Redundant; 'entangled' implies 'together').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'entangle' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is common for both, but the metaphorical use (involved in a difficult situation) is more frequent in modern usage, especially in formal writing and news.
'Tangle' is more general and can be intransitive ('The wires tangled'). 'Entangle' is usually transitive or passive and emphasises the *cause* or *state* of being trapped in something external or complicating ('He entangled the wires' / 'The whale was entangled in a net').
Almost never. The connotation is overwhelmingly negative, implying complication, difficulty, and a lack of freedom. The technical term 'quantum entanglement' is neutral.
The passive construction '[subject] be/become/get entangled in/with [something]' is extremely common, highlighting the subject's state of being trapped.