imbroglio
noun
Did you know?
Imbroglio and embroilment are more than just synonyms; they're also linked through etymology. Both descend from the Middle French verb embrouiller (which has the same meaning as embroil), from the prefix em-, meaning "thoroughly," plus brouiller, meaning "to mix" or "to confuse." (Brouiller is itself a descendant of an Old French word for "broth.") Early in the 17th century, English speakers began using embroil, a direct adaptation of embrouiller, as well as the noun embroilment. Meanwhile, the Italians were using their own alteration of embrouiller: imbrogliare, meaning "to entangle." In the mid-18th century, English speakers embraced the Italian noun imbroglio as well.
Synonyms
Examples of imbroglio in a Sentence
Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
The latest legal imbroglio for Trump is a byproduct of the difference of legal opinions between federal and state prosecutors about a chain of events dating back to 2016.
—Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
The current imbroglio is exposing that the royal family isn’t half as savvy or strategic as people are led to believe, nor as singularly focused on preserving the Crown.
—Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
The legal imbroglio was seen as a contretemps over Interpublic hoping to force Kassan out in favor of another executive — not an uncommon gambit in the maneuverings of Madison Avenue.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
One night later, Swift’s infamous imbroglio with Kanye West unfolded after the rapper stormed the stage at MTV’s VMAs while Swift accepted an award.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
The agency could use the resulting internet imbroglio to educate people about the best practices for off-road vehicles on public lands.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023
Whatever the outcome, the current imbroglio is almost certain to mark a turning point for Washington’s role in the region.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2024
But the basic story is laid out, starkly, in court papers from the lawsuit and countersuit that followed the imbroglio.
—Indrani Sen, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'imbroglio.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near imbroglio
Cite this Entry
“Imbroglio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imbroglio. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Share