embroil

IPA/ɪmˈbrɔɪl/
KK[ɛmbrˈɔɪl]IPA/ɪmˈbrɔɪl/

embroil — verb

  • embroilpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • embroilshe / she / it
  • embroiledpast simple
  • embroiling-ing form

1. to force or draw a person into a dispute, conflict, or troublesome matter, espec

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to force or draw a person into a dispute, conflict, or troublesome matter, especially when they would rather stay out of it

例句

The mayor's policy statement embroiled him in a heated debate with local activists.

active: embroil + object + in + [conflict]

Marta found herself embroiled in a family dispute over her grandmother's will.

passive refexive: find oneself embroiled in

同義詞
  • involve

    more neutral and general; does not necessarily imply conflict or unwillingness ('The project involves several departments')

  • entangle

    suggests being caught in something complex or messy, often against one's will ('She became entangled in a web of lies')

  • implicate

    strongly tied to wrongdoing or crime, with legal overtones ('The documents implicate the finance director')

  • enmesh

    literary; suggests being caught in a net of circumstances ('The family was enmeshed in debt')

反義詞
  • extricate

    to free someone from a difficult situation or involvement ('He struggled to extricate himself from the dispute')

  • disentangle

    to separate someone from a complicated or compromising situation

文法句型

embroil + someone + in + conflict/dispute

be/become/get embroiled + in + situation

embroil + someone + with + opposing party

用法筆記

Frequently passive — the participle form 'embroiled' is common in the construction 'be / become / get embroiled in'. The active form (embroil someone in something) sounds more deliberate and is used when one person's action causes another's involvement. The preposition 'in' introduces the problematic situation; 'with' introduces the other party involved.

常見錯誤

❌She embroiled into the argument.
✅She was embroiled in the argument.
💡The correct preposition after 'embroil' is 'in', not 'into'.
❌The scandal embroiled him.' (without specifying the situation)
✅The scandal embroiled him in a public controversy.
💡The situation (what they are drawn into) should usually be stated after 'in'.