tangle
verb (used with object)
to bring together into a mass of confusedly interlaced or intertwisted threads, strands, or other like parts; snarl.
were tangling
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past progressiveof tangle.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Meanwhile, they were tangling with the talent, notably Carroll O’Connor, who played Archie and contested nearly every line of dialogue they wrote for him.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 16, 2014
One year, when the justices were tangling over a handgun-control law until the final days of the month, Rehnquist kept his travel plans.
From Reuters ● Jun. 22, 2012
This month two old and furious small-town enemies, Premont and Los Fresnos, were tangling at Premont.
From Time Magazine Archive
He seemed at first tangled in brambles; then she thought ropes were tangling round him and tying him to something in the water—whatever it was, it was most awful, and hideous, and like a nightmare.
From The Blue Lagoon: a romance by H. De Vere (Henry De Vere) Stacpoole
