What does "wrangle" mean?
An angry dispute; a noisy quarrel; an altercation.
Wrangle
/ˈɹæŋɡl̩/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An angry dispute; a noisy quarrel; an altercation.
- Grammar: wrangle is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: quarrel, altercate, altercation, altercation.
- Useful contrasts: accept, accord, agree.
- Usage evidence: We are involved in a legal wrangle over payments.
How to use "wrangle"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "wrangle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "wrangle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "wrangle" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 An angry dispute; a noisy quarrel; an altercation. countable
"For in that you would your awardship shuld take none effect, you shew your selfe nothing inclinable to the redresse of your brothers vnright dealinge wyth an honeste poore man, which hath bene redye at your request to doo you pleasure with his things, or els he had neuer come into this wrāgle for his own goods with your brother."
- 2 an instance of intense argument (as in bargaining) wordnet
- 3 Angry disputation; noisy quarrelling. uncountable
"Wrangle and bloodshed followed thence."
- 4 an angry dispute wordnet
- 5 A contentious argument or response. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A controversy. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To convince or influence (someone) by arguing or contending. transitive
- 2 to quarrel noisily, angrily or disruptively wordnet
- 3 Followed by out of: to elicit (something) from a person by arguing or bargaining. transitive
"[W]e vvrangled out of the King ten quarters of Corne for a copper Kettel, the vvhich the Preſident preceiving him much to affect, valued it at a much greater rate; […]"
- 4 herd and care for wordnet
- 5 To speak or write (something) in an argumentative or contentious manner. archaic, rare, transitive
"[H]e has taken in, Sir, the vvhole ſubject,— […] begging, borrovving, and ſtealing, as he vvent along, all that had been vvrote or vvrangled thereupon in the ſchools and porticos of the learned; […]"
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 To spend (time) arguing or quarrelling. archaic, rare, transitive
- 7 To herd (horses or other livestock). US, Western, transitive
"When she [Debbie Reynolds as Lucretia Rogers] tries to wrangle a calf, she ends up flat on her face in the barnyard muck."
- 8 To herd (horses or other livestock).; To manage or supervise (people). US, Western, broadly, humorous, transitive
"Wrangling a chaotic group of five-year-olds is unnerving enough without the added stress of a famous NHLer [Brian Gionta] in the room helping lace his son’s skates."
- 9 To herd (horses or other livestock).; To gather and organize (data, facts, information, etc.), especially in a way which requires sentience rather than automated methods alone, as in data wrangling. US, Western, figuratively, transitive
- 10 Followed by out of: to compel or drive (someone or something) away through arguing. obsolete, transitive
"To VVrangle the Devil, out of the Country, vvill be truly a Nevv Experiment! Alas, vve are not Avvare of the Devil, if vve do not think, that he aims at Enflaming us one againſt another; & ſhall vve ſuffer our ſelves to be Devil-Ridden? or, by any Vnadviſableneſs, contribute unto the VVidening of our Breaches?"
- 11 Followed by out: to put forward arguments on (a case, a matter disagreed upon, etc.). obsolete, transitive
"VVell then, if I make 'hem not vvrangle out this caſe, to his no comfort, let me be thought a Iack Davv, or La-Foole, or any thing vvorſe."
- 12 To cause (oneself) grief through arguing or quarrelling. obsolete, reflexive, transitive
"When we have wrangled ourselves as long as our wits and strengths will serve us, the honest, downright sober English Protestant will be found, in the end, the man in the safest way, and by the surest line: […]"
- 13 To quarrel angrily and noisily; to bicker. also, figuratively, intransitive
"[A]fter his old manner, he wrangleth and quarrelleth."
- 14 To make harsh noises as if quarrelling. intransitive
"A suitable attire the horses shew; / Their golden bits keep wrangling as they go; […]"
- 15 To argue, to debate; also (dated), to debate or discuss publicly, especially about a thesis at a university. also, figuratively, intransitive
"Forſoothe, that vvhen he had concluded that vve muſt no liue by examples, but by lavves, he might make ſimple ſoules beleaue, that they ought not follovve the exãples of their holy forefathers, in bleſsing them ſelues, but to haue the name of the lavve in their mouthes and do nothing leſſe thã that the lavve biddeth them to doe. And to bring that to paſſe ſee hovve he vvrangleth."
Example
"We are involved in a legal wrangle over payments."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "wrangle"?
Common synonyms include: quarrel, altercate, altercation, altercation, argue, argue.
How do you use "wrangle" in a sentence?
We are involved in a legal wrangle over payments.
How do you pronounce "wrangle"?
Pronounced /ˈɹæŋɡl̩/.
Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English wranglen, wrangle (“to contend with (someone) in a test of strength; (figuratively) to make misleading arguments to entrap”); from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word related to Middle Dutch wrangen and Middle Low German wrangen (“to cause an uproar; to struggle, wrestle”) (whence Low German wrangeln (“to wrangle”)), related to Middle Dutch wringen (“to twist; to wrest; to wring; to struggle, wrestle”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wringaną (“to squeeze; to twist; to wring”). The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Danish vringle (“to twist, entangle”) * German rangeln (“to wrestle”)