tangle

If things twist around each other, they become difficult to separate.

• The wind tangled my hair.
• These wires tangle easily.
• Her necklace got tangled in her scarf.

How to use it: tangle in something (The string tangled in the branches.); tangle something up (The wind tangled the ropes up.)

Similar words: entangle, twist

Opposites: untangle

Common phrases: tangle something up, tangle together, tangle in something

To fight or argue with someone.

• Do not tangle with him.
• She tangled with her boss over pay.
• The protesters tangled with police outside the building.

How to use it: tangle with someone (He tangled with a much stronger opponent.)

Similar words: fight, clash, argue

Common phrases: tangle with someone, tangle with police

A group of threads, hairs, or similar things twisted together and difficult to separate.

• My hair is a tangle.
• She found a tangle of wires under the desk.
• He carefully removed the tangles from the fishing line.

How to use it: a tangle of something (A tangle of roots blocked the path.)

Similar words: knot

Common phrases: tangle of wires, tangle of hair, in a tangle

A confusing situation with many connected problems that are difficult to solve.

• His finances are in a tangle.
• We must sort out this legal tangle.
• The new law created a tangle of conflicting rules.

How to use it: a tangle of something (The case involves a tangle of legal problems.)

Similar words: mess, muddle

Common phrases: legal tangle, tangle of rules, in a tangle