We are involved in a legal wrangle over payments.
Source: tatoeba (1342945)
Wrangle
/ˈɹæŋɡl̩/
Synonyms for "wrangle" (147 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (30)
Strong matches (44)
conflictcontendcontend aboutcontentioncontestcontroversycorralcross swordscut and thrustdifferdisagreedisceptdisputedissensiondonnybrookdonnybrook fairdrivedroveembroilmentfall
Related words (73)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: quarrel, altercate, altercation, altercation, argue.
- Sentence evidence is available for wrangle, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "wrangle".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "wrangle"
Keep "wrangle" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "wrangle" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "wrangle", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "wrangle" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesMore specific
16 entriesCollocations
12 entriesbudget wranglingbureaucratic wranglecattle wranglingcontract wranglingdata wranglinglegal wranglinglegislative wrangleongoing wranglepolicy wranglepolicy wranglingpolitical wranglepublic wrangle
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
8 translations across 6 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- рабптя като каубой verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
Finnish
1 entries- paimentaa verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
German
1 entries- treiben verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
Portuguese
1 entries- pastorar verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
Romanian
1 entries- păstori verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
Swedish
3 entries- driva verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
- leda verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
- valla verb (to herd (horses or other livestock); to manage or supervise (people))
Sample sentences
39 total sentences available.
This contract dispute turned into a legal wrangle.
Source: tatoeba (12654445)
[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; […]
Source: wiktionary
[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; […]
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 39 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "wrangle"?
Closest matches include quarrel, altercate, altercation, altercation, argue.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "wrangle"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.