embroil
3 synonyms and 3 antonyms for embroil, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To throw something into confusion or disorder.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To throw something into confusion or disorder.
Opposites
2. verb
To draw someone into a difficult or contentious situation.
“Eurostar, which has had a monopoly from the outset in 1994, is currently embroiled in controversy over its decision not to restart services to Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations, because of what it claims is a lack of demand.”
Opposites
Etymology
PIE word *h₁én. The verb was borrowed from French embrouiller ("to entangle"), from em- (a variant of en-, meaning 'in; into') plus brouiller ("to confuse, mix up") — ultimately from Vulgar Latin *brodiculāre, from *brodicāre, from Late Latin brodium ("broth, stew; mixture"), from Frankish *broþ ("broth"), from Proto-G...
Full origin of embroil →