imbroglio

[ im-brohl-yoh ]

noun

, plural im·bro·glios.

1. a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc., of a complicated or bitter nature, as between persons or nations.
2. an intricate and perplexing state of affairs; a complicated or difficult situation.
3. a confused heap.

imbroglio

/ ɪmˈbrəʊlɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. a confused or perplexing political or interpersonal situation
2. obsolete.
   a confused heap; jumble

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbroglio¹

1740–50; < Italian, derivative of imbrogliare to embroil

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbroglio¹

C18: from Italian, from imbrogliare to confuse, embroil

Example Sentences

Relevant editors appeared to have been aware of Barrett’s plagiarism incidents but not so much about the imbroglio over her Post story, according to a staffer at the meeting.

From Washington Post

The NBA estimates the imbroglio cost $400 million in lost revenue.

From Fortune

But perhaps another errant remark by Hickenlooper recorded at the meeting sums up the whole imbroglio best.

From The Daily Beast

Yet the current imbroglio in which Obama finds himself is self-inflicted.

From The Daily Beast

Twitter is afire with thoughts on the Woodward-Politico-Gene Sperling imbroglio.

From The Daily Beast

No wonder the summit was eclipsed by the B-movie imbroglio over Secret Service agents moonlighting as sex tourists.

From The Daily Beast

Nonetheless, the great distortion of the debt-ceiling imbroglio was that failure to do a deal would have led to a default.

From The Daily Beast

Hence, as the intelligent reader can foresee, this groom has a part to play in the imbroglio.

From Project Gutenberg

It was strange to get news again, and strike suddenly into this extraordinary Chinese imbroglio.

From Project Gutenberg

And indeed his world is one huge imbroglio of Potentialities and Diplomatic Intricacies, agitating to behold.

From Project Gutenberg

What was to come of this strange imbroglio in which I now stood; how was Fate about to deal with me?

From Project Gutenberg

It is a short story of seventy-five small pages only and of the Italian-Spanish imbroglio type.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brouhaha
• entanglement
• quandary
• spat
• squabble