had been entangled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been entangled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something or someone was caught up or involved in a complex or difficult circumstance in the past. Example: "The two companies had been entangled in a legal dispute for years before finally reaching a settlement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It was also reported that he had been entangled in barbwire".

Independent

Instead she suggested Australia and Japan's attendance had been entangled in a Russian-US power play.

The Guardian

Some of the Americans who were just freed had been entangled in the toxic politics of Iran's revolution — and two Americans are still not home.

The New Yorker

Their owner, the Brooklyn-born real estate mogul Fred Wilpon had been entangled in the crash of the financial fraudster Bernie Madoff.

Independent

The flurry of announcements indicated that Mr. Trump was gaining control over a transition operation that had been entangled in infighting during its early stages.

The New York Times

The property had been entangled in a family legal feud for three decades until a judge ordered that the property be sold at auction, with the proceeds divided among family members.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

He has been entangled in doping scandals of his own.

The New York Times - Sports

But her own immigration efforts have been entangled.

The New York Times

Mr. Seacrest and his representatives have been entangled in contract negotiations with Comcast and NBC for several months.

The New York Times

Beyond the prosecutions, the Obama administration has been entangled in other perplexing disputes over classified information.

The New York Times

Astana, which has been entangled in past doping scandals, was barred from this year's Tour.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been entangled" to precisely convey that a subject was previously involved in a complex or problematic situation. Ensure the context clearly indicates the nature and duration of the entanglement.

Common error

Avoid using "had been entangled" when the simple past tense ("was entangled") is sufficient. "Had been entangled" implies the entanglement concluded before another point in the past. Use "was entangled" if describing a state that existed in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been entangled" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating a state of prior involvement or complication. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It describes an action that was completed before another point in the past.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been entangled" is a grammatically sound past perfect passive construction used to describe prior involvement in complex or problematic situations. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usefulness. Its usage spans news, academic, and more formal contexts, indicating a state that concluded before another point in the past. While synonyms like "had been involved" and "had been caught up" offer alternatives, "had been entangled" specifically highlights the complex and often restrictive nature of the involvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been caught up in

Focuses on being involved in something, often unexpectedly or unwillingly.

had been embroiled in

Emphasizes a contentious or complicated involvement.

had been ensnared by

Highlights the trapping or constraining aspect of the entanglement.

had been involved in

A more general term for participation or connection.

had been implicated in

Suggests a connection to something negative or criminal.

had been mixed up in

Implies confusion or disorder in the involvement.

had been tied up in

Focuses on the restrictive or hindering aspect of the involvement.

had been consumed by

Indicates that something has completely absorbed someone's attention or energy.

had found oneself in

Describes the act of discovering or realizing a situation without necessarily being responsible for it.

had become enmeshed in

Highlights the complex and interwoven nature of the involvement.

FAQs

How can I use "had been entangled" in a sentence?

Use "had been entangled" to indicate a past state of involvement in a complex or difficult situation that concluded before another point in the past. For example, "The company "had been entangled" in legal battles for years before settling the case."

What can I say instead of "had been entangled"?

You can use alternatives like "had been involved", "had been caught up", or "had been embroiled" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "had been entangled" and "was entangled"?

"Had been entangled" implies the entanglement concluded before another point in the past, while "was entangled" describes a state existing in the past without necessarily indicating when it ended.

Is it correct to say "have been entangled" instead of "had been entangled"?

Using "have been entangled" indicates present perfect tense, meaning the entanglement started in the past and continues to the present or has a present effect. "Had been entangled" refers to an entanglement that ended in the past.