imbroglio

[ im-brohl-yoh ]

/ ɪmˈbroʊl yoʊ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for imbroglio on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural im·bro·glios.

a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc., of a complicated or bitter nature, as between persons or nations.

an intricate and perplexing state of affairs; a complicated or difficult situation.

a confused heap.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also embroglio.

Origin of imbroglio

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

Words nearby imbroglio

imbracery, imbrangle, imbrex, imbricate, imbrication, imbroglio, Imbros, imbrown, imbrue, imbrute, imbue

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use imbroglio in a sentence

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.
Editor who worked on Ruth Shalit Barrett’s retracted Atlantic story is no longer with the magazine|Erik Wemple|January 30, 2021|Washington Post
The NBA estimates the imbroglio cost $400 million in lost revenue.
How the NBA kept the bubble from bursting|Adam Lashinsky|October 15, 2020|Fortune
But perhaps another errant remark by Hickenlooper recorded at the meeting sums up the whole imbroglio best.
Why Is Colorado’s Governor Now Bashing His Own Gun-Control Laws?|David Freedlander|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet the current imbroglio in which Obama finds himself is self-inflicted.
Obama Needs a Friend in Congress—Like Bush Had|Lloyd Green|September 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Twitter is afire with thoughts on the Woodward-Politico-Gene Sperling imbroglio.
Bob Woodward and Politico and the Worst of Washington|Michael Tomasky|February 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
No wonder the summit was eclipsed by the B-movie imbroglio over Secret Service agents moonlighting as sex tourists.
Cartagena Summit’s Other Outrage: Obama’s Indifference to Latin Issues|Mac Margolis|April 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Nonetheless, the great distortion of the debt-ceiling imbroglio was that failure to do a deal would have led to a default.
S&P Goes Tea Party|Zachary Karabell|August 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Hence, as the intelligent reader can foresee, this groom has a part to play in the imbroglio.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
It was strange to get news again, and strike suddenly into this extraordinary Chinese imbroglio.
In the Ranks of the C.I.V.|Erskine Childers
And indeed his world is one huge imbroglio of Potentialities and Diplomatic Intricacies, agitating to behold.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XV. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
What was to come of this strange imbroglio in which I now stood; how was Fate about to deal with me?
Paul Gosslett's Confessions in Love, Law, and The Civil Service|Charles James Lever
It is a short story of seventy-five small pages only and of the Italian-Spanish imbroglio type.
The English Novel|George Saintsbury

British Dictionary definitions for imbroglio

imbroglio

/ (ɪmˈbrəʊlɪˌəʊ) /

noun plural -glios

a confused or perplexing political or interpersonal situation

obsolete a confused heap; jumble

Word Origin for imbroglio

C18: from Italian, from imbrogliare to confuse, embroil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

imbroglio

Origin of imbroglio

Words nearby imbroglio

Words related to imbroglio

How to use imbroglio in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imbroglio

Word Origin for imbroglio