tangled

American  

[tang-guhld] / ˈtæŋ gəld /

adjective

1. snarled, interlaced, or mixed up.

   tangled thread.

2. very complicated, intricate, or involved.

   tangled bureaucratic procedures.

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Etymology

Origin of tangled

First recorded in 1580–90; tangle ¹ + -ed ²

Explanation

Tangled is an adjective that describes a confused mass. You're likely to hear tangled used most often when referring to hair. If it's tangled, you can't brush or comb through it. Other than discussing hair, tangled can be used to refer to anything that's jumbled up and confused. Like that tangled pile of wires behind your television and computer that you keep tripping over. Tangled can also mean something highly complicated or intricate, like the relationships between ex-wives, ex-husbands and stepchildren in a family. The word tangled is most famous for being included in a well-known literary quote from Sir Walter Scott's poem, "Marmion" — "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive."

Example Sentences

I remember sitting in a wig salon in Richmond as the owner, Amy Holt, gently brushed though my tangled hair as it was falling out in large lumps.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Sharda Devi, 55, a settler's daughter, recalls the first arrivals "toiling in some of the harshest conditions" to carve plantations out of the tangled forests.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Because of this tangled ownership history, many Bede scholars had considered the manuscript lost since 1975.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

Perry’s tangled love for her mother finds full expression in the film’s final act, in which she assembles musicians and backing vocalists to flesh out “What Lies With You,” written after her mother’s death.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Both of his ankles were tangled in some sort of rope.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• chaotic
• knotted
• muddled
• trapped
• twisted