To entangle things= To complicate things?

Question

Are the two verbs synonym? Thanks.

Yoong Liat · Accepted Answer

WesternAmericanAre the two verbs synonym?
Thanks.

They are synonyms based on the following definition.

complicate something: to make something more complicated or confusing
(missing image) (missing image) The story entangles the facts with value judgments.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I have never seen entangle used as a verb.

EnglishRaven · Answer

Hi WesternAmerican,

Yes, I would call them synonyms as they express the same broad concept (of something getting wrapped up or made to be more difficult than before). But the usage is different (collocation) depending on the situation and other words or ideas you want to use them with.

When I read your "to entangle things" I get a sense of things getting tied together physically or in a messy way.

When I read "complicate things" I get a sense of an intangible (something you can't touch) idea that has become more difficult and or confusing than before.

So I think you could get your dirty clothes all entangled in the laundry while you are trying to load them into the washer, but you could complicate things for yourself if you then decided to start sorting the clothes into whites and darks while they are all entangled there in the washer.

One (entangle) is more common for physical objects, while the other (complicate) refers to problems or situations (things we usually can't touch).

Does that make sense? I hope so!

Best,

Jason

Yoong Liat · Answer

Grammar GeekI have never seen entangle used as a verb.

The following is extracted from a dictionary.

transitive verb

Definition:

1. tangle something up: to make something become twisted up in a mass of strands, e.g. netting or hair ( usually passive )

2. put somebody in difficult situation: to involve somebody or something in a problem that will be difficult to escape from ( usually passive )
(missing image) (missing image) were entangled in corporate politics

3. complicate something: to make something more complicated or confusing
(missing image) (missing image) The story entangles the facts with value judgments.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I should have rephrased. I have never encountered "entangle" as an active, transitive verb.

I have seen "it has become entangled" (often in the physical sense - I like the washing machine example).

As we have said before, simply because it's in the dictionary, it doesn't mean it's in common use. In the U.S., I have simply never seen it used as defined in #3.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Grammar Geek As we have said before, simply because it's in the dictionary, it doesn't mean it's in common use. In the U.S., I have simply never seen it used as defined in #3.

Me either.

But here's another dictionary definition:
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en·tangle

Function: transitive verb

1 a : to twist or interweave so as to make separation difficult : make tangled and intricate : SNARL<entangle yarn> b : to make complicated or difficult of comprehension : CONFUSE<his explanation did not so much clarify as entangle the question>

2 a : to involve so as to impede physical movement or make extrication difficult : ENMESH, ENSNARL<entangle a bird in the coils of a net> <entangled themselves in a maze of woods and marshes> <entangled his feet in the train of her dress> b : to involve in a perplexing or troublesome situation from which escape is difficult : ENTRAP<entangling the country in a vicious circle of wars> <entangled himself in a ruinous litigation> <entangled his victims in a real-estate scheme that cost them dearly> <had entangled the king in a false marriage with her -- Edith Sitwell> c : to confuse mentally : PERPLEX, BEWILDER<entangled his listeners in a maze of sophistries> d archaic : ENCUMBER<died ... leaving an entangled estate, due to loans and back rentals -- R.J.Porcell>

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Yankee · Answer

To continue with the "dueling dictionaries" theme,

this is whathttp://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/entangle?view=uk has to say about the usual usage:

entangle
• verb (usu. be entangled in/with) 1 cause to become tangled. 2 involve in complicated circumstances

I agree that "become entangled" is also a common usage.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Amy, have you even seen "entangle" as an active, transitive verb? As in: You have entangled the situation by involving the FBI and Rose's ex-lover's new wife. As a direct substitution for the word "complicated"?

Yankee · Answer

Hi GG

No, I cannot remember ever having heard or read "entangle" used that way. But I guess I can't rule out the possibility that I might have run across that usage at one time or another, and simply don't remember it. The active, transitive usage of 'entangled' (meaning complicated) certainly can't be considered a very common usage.

To entangle things= To complicate things?

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