ensnarl

verb

en·​snarl in-ˈsnär(-ə)l 

en-

ensnarled; ensnarling; ensnarls

transitive verb

: to involve in a snarl

Synonyms

• catch up
• enmesh
• immesh
• ensnare
• entangle
• entoil
• entrap
• mesh
• net
• snare
• tangle
• trap

Examples of ensnarl in a Sentence

for two years the couple was ensnarled in the red tape of an international adoption

Recent Examples on the Web

Election controversies in several swing-state counties have the potential to ensnarl the presidential race. —John Riley, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2024

Other common problems can quickly be solved by wiping off the optical sensors with a soft cloth, unclogging the vacuum chute when Legos have gotten stuck inside, and cutting off long hair that has ensnarled the roller or side brushes. —WIRED, 24 Mar. 2023

Eastbound 580 traffic remained reduced to three lanes and severe congestion began to ensnarl the highway shortly after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. —Ricardo Cano, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023

Those exact questions would divide state government and ensnarl Utah’s COVID-19 response in politics as hundreds, and then thousands, of Utahns fell ill while the coronavirus spread worldwide. —Bethany Rodgers, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Sep. 2021

All the while, their suspicions focused on Mr. Dulos, with whom she had been ensnarled in a bitter, yearslong custody battle. —Michael Gold, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2020

That led to a police chase that ended in Miramar, where the robbers became ensnarled in traffic and exchanged gunshots with the police. —Lisa J. Huriash, sun-sentinel.com, 12 Dec. 2019

The site is part of what was once envisioned as a downtown neighborhood featuring hundreds of new homes, but the original plan by developer Zaremba Inc. was ensnarled by challenges from the start. —Jordyn Grzelewski, cleveland.com, 5 Sep. 2019

Yost is leading a wide-ranging investigation into Cuyahoga County government and the jail that has ensnarled members of Budish’s administration. —Eric Heisig, cleveland.com, 30 Aug. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ensnarl

• carl
• harl
• parle
• snarl