tangle
verb (used with object)
to bring together into a mass of confusedly interlaced or intertwisted threads, strands, or other like parts; snarl.
tangling
-
present participleof tangle.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Elected in 2022, the 65-year-old Colombian president is no stranger to tangling with adversaries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025
It’s the risk of tangling their expectations and desires, and the fear that their hunger to stay together might get in the way of their separate futures.
From Salon ● May 21, 2025
There’s a school of thought that, in tangling with adversaries, it’s sometimes wise to seem unpredictable—to tip them off balance.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2025
Williams started opening residential facilities in the San Fernando Valley to care for patients in the 1980s, at times tangling with Medi-Cal officials who raised concerns about regulatory requirements.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 27, 2024
Why, with a car like that, he would no longer have to hang onto his tail to keep it from tangling in the spokes.
From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary
