tangle
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tangle¹
- /ˈtæŋ.ɡəl/
- [ˈtæŋ.ɡəl] ~ [ˈtæŋ.ɡl̩]
- /ˈteɪ̯ŋɡəl/ Canada, US
- [ˈtʰeɪ̯ŋɡəl] ~ [ˈtʰeɪ̯ŋɡl̩] Canada, US
- /ˈtɛ̃ŋɡəl/ Canada, US
- [ˈtʰɛ̃ŋɡəl] ~ [ˈtʰɛ̃ŋɡl̩] Canada, US
Rhymes with -æŋɡəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English tanglen, probably of North Germanic origin, compare Swedish taggla (“to disorder”), Old Norse þǫngull, þang (“tangle; seaweed”), see Etymology 2 below.
verb tangles · tangling · tangled
- To mix together or intertwine.
- To become mixed together or intertwined. Her hair was tangled from a day in the wind.
- To enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight. Don't tangle with someone three times your size.
- To catch and hold. tangled in amorous nets
Similar: enmesh, ensnare, ensnarl, entangle, foul, implicate, imply, involve, mat, ravel, snarl, tangle · Opposite: untangle
noun tangles
- A tangled twisted mass.
- A complicated or confused state or condition. I tried to sort through this tangle and got nowhere.
- An argument, conflict, dispute, or fight.
- A region of the projection of a knot such that the knot crosses its perimeter exactly four times.
- A paired helical fragment of tau protein found in a nerve cell and associated with Alzheimer's disease.
- A form of art which consists of sections filled with repetitive patterns.
tangle²
- /ˈtæŋ.ɡəl/
- [ˈtæŋ.ɡəl] ~ [ˈtæŋ.ɡl̩]
- /ˈteɪ̯ŋɡəl/ Canada, US
- [ˈtʰeɪ̯ŋɡəl] ~ [ˈtʰeɪ̯ŋɡl̩] Canada, US
- /ˈtɛ̃ŋɡəl/ Canada, US
- [ˈtʰɛ̃ŋɡəl] ~ [ˈtʰɛ̃ŋɡl̩] Canada, US
Rhymes with -æŋɡəl
Where it comes from
Of North Germanic origin, such as Danish tang or Swedish tång, from Old Norse þongull, þang. See also Norwegian tongul, Faroese tongul, Icelandic þöngull.
noun tangles
- Any large type of seaweed, especially a species of Laminaria. […] if with thee the roaring wells Should gulf him fathom-deep in brine; And hands so often clasp’d in mine, Should toss with tangle and with shells.
- An instrument consisting essentially of an iron bar to which are attached swabs, or bundles of frayed rope, or other similar substances, used to capture starfishes, sea urchins, and other similar creatures living at the bottom of the sea.
- Any long hanging thing, even a lanky person.
Tangle³
proper noun
- A barangay of Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: entangle, ravel, snarl, embroil, sweep, sweep up, tousle, complication, drag in, knot, mat, dishevel, drag, entanglement, enmesh, maze
Translations
Every language
verb to mix together or intertwine
| Español | enmarañar |
|---|---|
| Português | emaranhar, misturar |
| Français | emmêler, enchevêtrer, compliquer |
| Deutsch | verwirren, verfitzen, verfilzen |
| Italiano | intrecciare |
| Ελληνικά | πλέκω pléko |
| Русский | запу́тывать zapútyvatʹ, запу́тать zapútatʹ |
verb to become mixed together or intertwined
| Español | enmarañarse |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 縺れる motsureru |
| 中文 | 糾結 /纠结 jiūjié |
| Português | enrolar-se, embaraçar, emaranhar |
| Français | s'emmêler, s'enchevêtrer |
| Deutsch | verfitzen, zerzausen, sich verheddern |
| Ελληνικά | εμπλέκω empléko |
| Русский | запу́тываться zapútyvatʹsja, запу́таться zapútatʹsja |
verb to be forced into some kind of situation
| Português | envolver |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | sich verstricken |
| Ελληνικά | μπλέκω bléko |
| Русский | впу́тывать vpútyvatʹ, впу́тать vpútatʹ |
verb to enter into an argument, conflict, dispute, or fight
| Deutsch | sich anlegen mit jmdn., sich verwickeln lassen |
|---|---|
| Русский | встрева́ть vstrevátʹ, встрять vstrjatʹ |
verb to catch and hold
| Português | capturar, pegar |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | verfangen, verstricken |
noun tangled twisted mass
| Español | maraña |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 縺れ motsure |
| Português | emaranhado |
| Français | imbroglio |
| Deutsch | Wirrwarr |
| Русский | пу́таница pútanica, неразбери́ха nerazberíxa, беспоря́док besporjádok |
noun complicated or confused state or condition
| 日本語 | 縺れ motsure |
|---|---|
| Português | emaranhado |
| Deutsch | Gewirr |
| Русский | клубо́к klubók |
Talk about this word "tangle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/tangle. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. tangle. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/tangle "tangle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/tangle.Cite this
@misc{tangle_2026,
title = {tangle},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/tangle},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
