embroiled

Embroiled is an adjective meaning deeply involved in a difficult, contentious, or complicated situation, especially one marked by conflict or controversy. It often describes parties drawn into disputes, scandals, or negotiations where involvement extends beyond ordinary participation. The term is frequently used in journalism and political analysis to convey a sense of entanglement rather than mere involvement.

As a past participle of the verb embroil, embroiled can modify a subject: for example, a country or organization can be described as embroiled in talks, a policy debate, or a legal battle. The noun form embroil is less common, while the verb phrase to embroil someone in denotes causing them to become involved.

Etymology: Embroiled traces to the verb embroil, which comes from Old French embroiller or embrouiller, meaning to entangle, confuse, or entrap. The sense extended from physical entanglement to metaphorical entanglement in disputes and controversies.

Typical contexts: politics and diplomacy (negotiations or conflicts that are politically charged), business (regulatory investigations or lawsuits), and personal life (family or community disputes). The word often signals a negative or burdensome level of involvement and can imply that resolution will be difficult or lengthy.

Notes: Embroiled carries stronger connotations of conflict and entanglement than merely being involved. In neutral writing, it may be preferable to use terms such as involved in or entangled in if the emphasis on controversy is not desired.