Verb (1-dan, intransitive)
Usually written in kana
1. to tangle; to get tangled; to get entangled
ほどこうとすればするほど、余計にもつれて固まっていく。The more one tries to untangle it, the more it gets tangled and hardened.
2. to have poor control over (one's tongue, feet, etc.); to trip over
as 舌が〜, 足が〜, etc.
何度も足がもつれそうになった。I nearly tripped over my feet many times.
3. to become complicated; to become difficult; to become tricky; to get into a tangle; to become messy
僕は、もつれていた疑問が解けていく感覚を味わっていた。I was savoring the sensation of my tangled questions unraveling.