adj C1 Advanced Uncommon

tangled

TANG-guhld

Tangled (adj) means Twisted together into a confused, knotted mass. Example: “The cables behind the TV were hopelessly tangled.”

adj

Twisted together into a confused, knotted mass.

"The cables behind the TV were hopelessly tangled."

Complicated and hard to sort out.

"The case turned into a tangled mess of claims and counterclaims."

How to use tangled

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTwisted into knots, or, of a situation, confusingly complicated.

Common pairings

tangled wires tangled mess

Word forms

more tangled comparative, most tangled superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The cables behind the TV were hopelessly _____.

Rhymes for tangled

angled mangled entangled newfangled

See all rhymes for tangled →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tangled” mean?

The word “tangled” means twisted together into a confused, knotted mass. In plain terms, twisted into knots, or, of a situation, confusingly complicated.

How do you pronounce “tangled”?

“Tangled” is pronounced TANG-guhld (/ˈtæŋ.ɡəld/ in IPA).

How do you use “tangled” in a sentence?

Here is “tangled” used in a sentence: “The cables behind the TV were hopelessly tangled.”

What part of speech is “tangled”?

“Tangled” is an adjective.

Is “tangled” a common word?

“Tangled” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “tangled” have?

“Tangled” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: twisted together into a confused, knotted mass.