Word
tangled
Phoneticstan·gled, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtæŋɡəɫd/
UK/tˈæŋɡəld/
Definitions
01physically messy
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. twisted together in a messy or confused way.
adj. intertwined or interlaced in a confused, disordered mass.
“She spent twenty minutes trying to fix her tangled hair after the windy walk.”
“The old fishing nets lay in a tangled heap on the deck, covered in dried seaweed and salt from the morning's work.”
02complicated
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very complicated and difficult to understand or deal with.
adj. highly intricate, involved, or complicated; often used for abstract concepts like relationships or legal issues.
“The two companies have a tangled history of arguments and legal problems.”
“The investigators spent months unravelling the tangled web of financial transactions that the CEO had used to hide the company's losses.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Research scientist Ashish Rajurkar kneels in the dirt, lifting a large clod of soil tangled around a soybean plant.” “S ingapore’s interest in both water and food security, and sustainability more generally, has long, tangled roots.” The word in film
Tangled · 2010 · Comedy
- Directed by:
- Nathan Greno
This Disney animated comedy follows a young woman with incredibly long, magical hair that never gets knotted or messy. The title describes the messy situation she finds herself in after a thief helps her escape from her tower for the first time.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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