tangle

tangle — noun

1. hair, string, wires, or similar items that are twisted together in a disordered

1.nounB2
Definition

hair, string, wires, or similar items that are twisted together in a disordered way, forming a messy knot; also, a confused situation that is hard to understand or sort out

Example

Rin spent an hour brushing the tangles out of her long hair after the walk.

collocation: brush tangles out of hair

A messy tangle of old charging cables lay behind Felipe's desk.

Common collocations
  • a tangle of
  • in a tangle
  • dense tangle
  • brush tangles out of
Synonyms
  • knot

    a tighter, more deliberate twisting of one or more strings, often tied on purpose

  • mess

    more general; describes any disorderly state, not necessarily involving twisted strands

  • snarl

    a very tight, stubborn tangle that is especially hard to undo, often in hair or thread

Antonyms
  • order

    a tidy, well-arranged state

Grammar Patterns

a tangle of [things]

Common Mistakes

There is a tangle in my shoelace.
There is a knot in my shoelace.
'tangle' implies many strands twisted together by accident, not a single deliberate knot.

2. an angry argument or quarrel between two people or groups

2.nounB2
Definition

an angry argument or quarrel between two people or groups

Example

Aarav got into a tangle with his neighbour over the garden fence.

collocation: get into a tangle with [someone]

The two politicians had a legal tangle that dragged on for months.

collocation: a legal tangle

Common collocations
  • a tangle with
  • get into a tangle
  • legal tangle
  • nasty tangle
Synonyms
  • dispute

    more formal; often involves a clear subject of disagreement such as a contract or border

  • quarrel

    more personal and emotional than 'tangle', often between individuals

  • conflict

    broader in scope; can describe wars, ideological clashes, or personal fights

Antonyms
  • agreement

    a situation where people share the same view or have settled their differences

Grammar Patterns

a tangle with [someone]

Usage Note

Often appears in the phrase 'a tangle with [someone]' or 'get into a tangle'. Less common in formal writing, where 'dispute' or 'conflict' would be preferred.

Common Mistakes

We had a tangle about where to eat.
We had an argument about where to eat.
'tangle' suggests a more serious or prolonged conflict, not a casual disagreement.

tangle — verb

Word family

  • tangled
    adjectiveB2
  • untangle
    verbC1
  • entangle
    verbC1
  • entanglement
    nounC1
  • tangly
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Tangle', 'knot', 'mess', and 'snarl' all describe things that are not neatly arranged, but they differ in cause and use. A 'tangle' is a twisted mass of long, flexible items such as hair, wires, or thread that have become intertwined by accident. A 'knot' can be a deliberate tying of string or rope, or a tight tangle that is hard to undo. A 'mess' describes general disorder of any kind — it does not require twisted strands. A 'snarl' is a very tight, stubborn tangle, especially in hair or thread, that is particularly hard to comb apart. For example, you would say 'My necklace is in a tangle' if the chain is loosely twisted, but 'The ribbon has a knot in it' if there is a tight, intentional loop. If your desk is untidy, call it a 'mess', not a tangle.

knot ↗mess ↗snarl

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hair tangle
  • wire tangle
  • legal tangle
  • traffic tangle

Adverbs

  • badly tangled
  • hopelessly tangled
  • completely tangled
  • tightly tangled

Phrases

  • in a tangle
  • tangle up
  • tangle together

Prepositions

  • tangle in
  • tangle with
  • tangle around
  • tangle into

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'tangle' entered English from Old Norse, likely related to words for seaweed — a plant that naturally twists and knots together in the water. It has been used since the 1300s for both physical knots of rope or hair and, by the 1500s, for confused situations and arguments.