What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
intricate
Example
The intricate details of the painting were breathtaking. [intricate: adjective]
Example
The watchmaker carefully assembled the intricate mechanism of the timepiece. [intricate: adjective]
tangled
Example
The fisherman's net was tangled with seaweed. [tangled: adjective]
Example
She spent hours trying to untangle the knots in her hair. [untangle: verb]
Example
The company found itself in a tangled web of legal issues. [tangled: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tangled is more commonly used than intricate in everyday language. Tangled is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while intricate is less common and often used in specific contexts such as art, design, or engineering.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between intricate and tangled?
While intricate is typically associated with a formal and technical tone, tangled is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.