English Reference
adjective

tangled

adj.
US /ˈtæŋɡəɫd/ UK /tˈæŋɡəld/ tan·gled

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    twisted together in a messy or confused way.

    intertwined or interlaced in a confused, disordered mass.

    Simple

    She spent twenty minutes trying to fix her tangled hair after the windy walk.

    In context

    The old fishing nets lay in a tangled heap on the deck, covered in dried seaweed and salt from the morning's work.

    straightuntangledneat
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    very complicated and difficult to understand or deal with.

    highly intricate, involved, or complicated; often used for abstract concepts like relationships or legal issues.

    Simple

    The two companies have a tangled history of arguments and legal problems.

    In context

    The investigators spent months unravelling the tangled web of financial transactions that the CEO had used to hide the company's losses.

S ingapore’s interest in both water and food security, and sustainability more generally, has long, tangled roots.

Aeon· 31 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated