embroiled

American  

[em-broild] / ɛmˈbrɔɪld /

adjective

1. complicated; confused.

   I congratulate you on your skillful diplomacy, which disentangled an embroiled situation to the satisfaction of all.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of embroil.

Other Word Forms

• unembroiled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of embroiled

embroil ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

When you're embroiled in something, you're tangled or mired in it — in other words, you're involved so completely that it's hard to get away from it. You might be embroiled in an argument between two friends, unable to step back and be neutral. Two warring countries might be embroiled in peace talks, or two characters on your favorite TV show could be embroiled in a scandal. In either case, people are tangled in a complicated situation or a serious conflict. The earliest meaning of embroil was "throw into disorder," from the French root embrouillier, "entangle or confuse."

Example Sentences

Sanchez begins his runoff campaign embroiled in legal troubles.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

The jury was told how, earlier that day, he had become embroiled in an argument with a witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

It’s also a film caught up in idealism, presenting a this-or-that way to approach situations like the one Davidson found himself embroiled in earlier this year.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

That company was embroiled in a public-corruption scandal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

I particularly feared he would get embroiled in a religious discussion, bring in my Roman Catholicism in a way that could embarrass the Church.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

Related Words

• affected
• concerned
• entangled
• interested
• participating