NYT Dictionary

TANGLE

/ˈteɪ̯ŋɡəl/
VerbNounTAN-gletan-gle · 2 syllablesGrade 12

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2022, 2025

Meaning

To mix together or intertwine.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English tanglen, probably of North Germanic origin, compare Swedish taggla (“to disorder”), Old Norse þǫngull, þang (“tangle; seaweed”), see Etymology 2 below.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

entangleknotmatsnarldisheveltousleargueconflictdisputefight

Antonyms

untangleunsnarlunravelunknotdisentangle

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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