What does "wrestle" mean?
A fight or struggle between people during which they grapple or otherwise contend with each other in order to throw or force their opponent to the ground, chiefly as a sport or in unarmed combat.
Wrestle
/ˈɹɛsl̩/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A fight or struggle between people during which they grapple or otherwise contend with each other in order to throw or force their opponent to the ground, chiefly as a sport or in unarmed combat.
- Grammar: wrestle is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: grapple, agonize, battle, bout.
- Useful contrasts: avoid, calm, cede.
- Usage evidence: Then I sang a silly song about an ant who tried to wrestle a chewing gum.
How to use "wrestle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "wrestle" 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
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
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 "wrestle" 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
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "wrestle" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "wrestle" 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
Compare it with "grapple" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A fight or struggle between people during which they grapple or otherwise contend with each other in order to throw or force their opponent to the ground, chiefly as a sport or in unarmed combat. countable, uncountable
"[I]n a VVreſtle the Giant [Gogmagog] catching aloft, vvith a terrible hugg broke three of his Ribs: nevertheleſs Corineus enrag'd, heaving him up by main force, and on his Shoulders bearing him to the next high Rock, threvv him headlong all ſhatter'd into the Sea, and left his name on the Cliff, call'd ever ſince Langoëmagog, vvhich is to ſay, the Giants leap."
- 2 the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat wordnet
- 3 A situation in which people compete with each other; a contest, a struggle. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"Both parties in the wrestle professing earnest wishes of peace to us, what have we to do with it except answer earnestly, "Peace, yes certainly," and mind our affairs elsewhere. The British Nation has no concern with that indispensable sorrowful and shameful wrestle now going on everywhere in foreign parts."
- 4 The action of contending or struggling. also, figuratively, uncountable
"War in Italy, universal spasm of wrestle there, being now the expectation of foolish mankind."
Verb
- 1 To take part in (a wrestling bout or match). transitive
"And novv Ptolemais being to vvreſtle her laſt fall, ſtripped her ſelf of all cumberſome clothes: vvomen, children, aged perſons, vveak folks […] vvere ſent avvay; […]"
- 2 engage in deep thought, consideration, or debate wordnet
- 3 Sometimes followed by down: to contend with or move (someone) into or out of a position by grappling; also, to overcome (someone) by grappling. transitive
"My driver at the second station was a stout girl of twenty, strong enough to wrestle any man, but shy, modest, and gentle."
- 4 combat to overcome an opposing tendency or force wordnet
- 5 To move or manipulate (something) using physical effort, usually with some difficulty or opposition. transitive
"And, wrestling both his arms into a gown, / He paused and took a survey up and down."
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 engage in a wrestling match wordnet
- 7 To engage in (a contest or struggle). figuratively, transitive
- 8 to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling) wordnet
- 9 To throw down (a calf or other livestock animal) for branding. US, Western, transitive
- 10 To grapple or otherwise contend with an opponent in order to throw or force them to the ground, chiefly as a sport or in unarmed combat. intransitive
"Wreſtell nat with me for I wyll throwe the [thee] on thy backe […]"
- 11 Followed by with: to move or manipulate something using physical effort, usually with some difficulty or opposition. intransitive
"It fits Ioues ſonne / VVraſtle vvith Lyons, and to tugge vvith Beares, / Grapple vvith Dragons, and incounter VVhales."
- 12 To make one's way or move with some difficulty or effort. figuratively, intransitive
"[S]o great a ſtorme of vvind and raine beat vpon vs that vvee not only loſt our vvay, but our ſelues, and at length vvraſtled to Geer, hauing firſt paſt through the Straits of Mozendram."
- 13 Followed by against or with: to contend, to struggle; to exert effort, to strive. figuratively, intransitive
"Put on the arms of our god⸝ that ye maye ſtonde ſtedfaſt agaynſt the crafty aſſautes off the devyll. For we wreſtle not agaynſt fleſſhe and bloud: but agaynſt ruele⸝ agaynſt power⸝ and agaynſt worldy ruelars of the darcknes of this worlde⸝ agaynſt ſpretuall wickednes in hevenly thyngꝭ [thyngis]."
- 14 To contend verbally; to argue, to debate, to dispute. archaic, figuratively, intransitive
"[B]ecause […] they were loath to wrestle with the people, or force them from dangerous customs, they came from that supine negligence, in tolerating prayer for the dead, to establish a doctrinal point of purgatory; […]"
- 15 To twist or wriggle; to writhe. archaic, figuratively, intransitive
"But God (vvhen pleaſeth him) doth giue this ſtrength to man, / VVhereby he ſtandeth ſtout; euen like a mightie rocke / Amid the mounting vvaues vvhen Eole [Aeolus] doth vnlocke / Sterne Auſters ſtormie gate, making the vvaters vvraſtle / And ruſh vvith vvrathfull rage againſt the ſturdie caſtle, […]"
- 16 Followed by with: to concern or occupy oneself closely, or deal with, a task, etc. archaic, figuratively, intransitive
"Our hope is, that the yong Studient, vvho heretofore meeting at the firſt, and vvraſtling vvith as difficult termes and matter, as in many yeares after, vvas at the firſt diſcouraged (as many haue bin) may be reading theſe Inſtitutes, haue the difficultie and darkeneſſe both of the Matter and of the Termes and VVords of Art in the beginnings of his Studie facilitated, and explained vnto him, to the end hee may proceed in his Studie cheerefully, and vvith delight; […]"
Example
"Then I sang a silly song about an ant who tried to wrestle a chewing gum."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "wrestle"?
Common synonyms include: grapple, agonize, battle, bout, bouts, box.
How do you use "wrestle" in a sentence?
Then I sang a silly song about an ant who tried to wrestle a chewing gum.
How do you pronounce "wrestle"?
Pronounced /ˈɹɛsl̩/.
Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English wrestlen, wrastlen (“to engage in grappling combat or sport, struggle, wrestle; to twist and turn, squirm, wriggle, writhe; (figurative) to contend, grapple with, struggle”), from Old English wrǣstlian (“to wrestle”), a frequentative form of wrǣstan (“to twist, wrest”), from Proto-Germanic *wraistijaną (“to turn; to twist, wrest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”). By surface analysis, wrest + -le (frequentative suffix). Probably related to wraxle (UK, dialectal, archaic). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * Middle Dutch worstelen, wrastelen (“to wrestle”) (modern Dutch worstelen) * Middle Low German wrostelen (“to wrestle”) (German Low German frösseln, wrösseln) * Saterland Frisian wrosselje (“to contend, wrestle”) * West Frisian wrakselje (“to wrestle”)