imbroglio
/ɪmˈbɹəʊljəʊ/
Group 29Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (noun)
- An extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation GRE
Example in Context
The diplomatic imbroglio threatened to derail the peace process that had taken years of painstaking negotiation to construct.
Synonyms
messtanglescandal
Etymology
A tangled or complicated situation — a mess.
- imbrogliare (Italian) — to tangle
Memory Aid
🌀Sounds like “in broglio”
Caught IN a BROGLIO of spaghetti, the chef cries, 'This is an IMBROGLIO!'
Visual Association
🤯A chef surrounded by a swirling mass of spaghetti, looking utterly confused.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “imbroglio” mean on the GRE?
imbroglio (noun) means “An extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation”. The diplomatic imbroglio threatened to derail the peace process that had taken years of painstaking negotiation to construct.
How to remember “imbroglio” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “imbroglio” sounds like “in broglio”. Caught IN a BROGLIO of spaghetti, the chef cries, 'This is an IMBROGLIO!'
What are synonyms for “imbroglio”?
Common synonyms: mess, tangle, scandal.