tangle

¹ American  

[tang-guhl] / ˈtæŋ gəl /

verb (used with object)

tangled, tangling

1. to bring together into a mass of confusedly interlaced or intertwisted threads, strands, or other like parts; snarl.

2. to involve in something that hampers, obstructs, or overgrows.

   The bushes were tangled with vines.

3. to catch and hold in or as if in a net or snare.

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verb (used without object)

tangled, tangling

1. to be or become tangled.

2. Informal. to come into conflict; fight or argue.

   I don't want to tangle with him over the new ruling.

noun

1. a tangled condition or situation.

2. a tangled or confused mass or assemblage of something.

3. a confused jumble.

   a tangle of contradictory statements.

   Synonyms:

   fight, dispute, argument, altercation, maze, labyrinth, snarl

4. Informal. a conflict; disagreement.

   He got into a tangle with the governor.

tangle ² American  

[tang-guhl] / ˈtæŋ gəl /

noun

1. any of several large seaweeds of the genus Laminaria.

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tangle ¹ British  

/ ˈtæŋɡəl /

noun

1. a confused or complicated mass of hairs, lines, fibres, etc, knotted or coiled together

2. a complicated problem, condition, or situation

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verb

1. to become or cause to become twisted together in a confused mass

2. to come into conflict; contend

   to tangle with the police

3. (tr) to involve in matters which hinder or confuse

   to tangle someone in a shady deal

4. (tr) to ensnare or trap, as in a net

tangle ² British  

/ ˈtæŋɡəl /

noun

1. alternative names (esp Scot) for oarweed

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Other Word Forms

• tanglement
  noun
• tangler
  noun
• tangly
  adverb
• tangly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tangle¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tangilen, tagilen “to entangle,” probably from a Scandinavian language; compare Swedish (dialect) taggla “to disarrange”

Origin of tangle²

First recorded in 1530–40; from a Scandinavian language; compare Old Norse thǫngull “strand of tangle,” Norwegian tang

Explanation

A tangle is a jumble. You might have a tangle of cords behind your computer or a tangle of complications related to your taxes. Whatever it is, once something is in a tangle, it's difficult to sort out. The word tangle likely originated from a Scandinavian source — taggla, in a Swedish dialect, means “disarrange.” Tangle also can be used as a verb: you may tangle your hair as a fashion statement, but then it hurts to comb it out. As a noun, tangle can refer to an argument or a fight between two people: if you're really feisty, people might be warned away from getting into a tangle with you.

Example Sentences

“I think what people miss is just how ubiquitous it is,” says Saul, who writes the Tangle newsletter and is Jewish.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2025

Born in Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, Pendergrass grew up around her mother’s side of the family in the hilly Tangle River district of St. James Parish, 15 miles above Montego Bay’s turquoise waters and plush resorts.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2023

“They definitely need some type of security,” said Cross’s friend, Jared Tangle.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2023

"There are occasions where you get things wrong. For me, Tangle Teezer was a miss," he admits, referring to the now-hugely-popular detangling hairbrush which has since made its inventor more than £100m.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2021

A square for Ungifted by Gordon Korman, a triangle for A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, a hexagon for Twerp by Mark Goldblatt, and an oval for The Postcard by Tony Abbott.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• confuse
• embroil
• enmesh
• entangle
• perplex
• snarl
• tie up
• trap