tangling
Becoming a mess
Tangling is becoming twisted together or caught up in something.
Hair tangles, cords tangle, fishing lines tangle.
To be tangling with someone is to be in conflict or contention: I wouldn't recommend tangling with her—she's a lawyer.
The word suggests messy entanglement that's difficult to undo.
Hostile vocal threat
- jamCooked fruit spread
- clogBlock or wooden shoe
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- blockageObstruction halting movement
gridlock · bottleneck · logjam · impede · hamper · hinder · traffic · backup
Lack of order
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- clutterUntidy collection of items
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
- messDisorderly, troublesome condition
muddle · confusion · scramble · hodgepodge · shambles · snarl · web · morass
Continuous mark or queue
- reelWinding cylinder or dance
- lureThing that tempts
- hookCurved catching device
- backlashStrong negative reaction
birdnest · cast · monofilament · leader · sinkers · swivel · tackle · snagging
Forming fixed interlacements
- twistingRotating with distortion
- coilingLooping around repeatedly
- loopingMoving in circles
- entwiningTwisting things together
weaving · braiding · interlacing · plaiting · interweaving · winding · enmeshing · curling
Thick twisted fibers
- twineStranded cord for tying
- threadFiber for stitching
- yarnTwisted strand for crafts
- cordageRopes and twines collectively
lacing · splicing · cinching · binding · hitching · macramé · monofilament · line
Verbal clash over differences
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
skirmish · brawl · scuffle · fracas · run-in · involvement · embroilment · scrape
snarl
Hostile vocal threat
- jamCooked fruit spread
- clogBlock or wooden shoe
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
blockage · gridlock · bottleneck · logjam · impede · hamper · hinder · traffic · backup · pileup
disarray
Lack of order
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- clutterUntidy collection of items
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
mess · muddle · confusion · scramble · hodgepodge · shambles · snarl · web · morass · labyrinth
line
Continuous mark or queue
backlash · birdnest · cast · monofilament · leader · sinkers · swivel · tackle · snagging · snag
knotting
Forming fixed interlacements
entwining · weaving · braiding · interlacing · plaiting · interweaving · winding · enmeshing · curling · spiral
rope
Thick twisted fibers
cordage · lacing · splicing · cinching · binding · hitching · macramé · monofilament · line · leader
dispute
Verbal clash over differences
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
confrontation · skirmish · brawl · scuffle · fracas · run-in · involvement · embroilment · scrape · brush
matted
Tangled into clumps
disheveled · knotty · shaggy · ruffled · rumpled · frowzy · brushing · combing · detangling · bedhead
- hair problemsbreakage, split ends, frizz, dryness, damage
- muddlingmuddling, jumbling, scrambling, mixing up, disarranging
- confusing actionsmisleading, misdirecting, obfuscating, muddling, garbling
- sticky texturessticky, tacky, gluey, gummy, adhesive
- clumping actionsclotting, curdling, coagulating, congealing, lumping
- fabric flawssnag, tear, hole, pilling, fray
tanglinguntangling
Separating twisted strands
disentangling · unraveling · straightening · unknotting · combing
tanglinguntangling
Separating twisted strands
disentangling · clarifying · simplifying · resolving · unraveling
tanglingextricating
Releasing from entrapment
disengaging · avoiding · withdrawing · escaping · freeing