wrangle

1 of 2

verb

wran·​gle ˈraŋ-gəl 

wrangled; wrangling ˈraŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to dispute angrily or peevishly : bicker

2

: to engage in argument or controversy

transitive verb

1

: to obtain by persistent arguing or maneuvering : wangle

2

[back-formation from wrangler] : to herd and care for (livestock and especially horses) on the range

wrangle

2 of 2

noun

1

: an angry, noisy, or prolonged dispute or quarrel

2

: the action or process of wrangling

Synonyms

Verb

• altercate
• argue
• argufy
• bicker
• brabble
• brawl
• controvert
• dispute
• fall out
• fight
• hassle
• jar
• quarrel
• quibble
• row
• scrap
• spat
• squabble
• tiff

Noun

• altercation
• argle-bargle [chiefly British]
• argument
• argy-bargy [chiefly British]
• battle royal
• bicker
• brawl
• contretemps
• controversy
• cross fire
• disagreement
• dispute
• donnybrook
• falling-out
• fight
• hassle
• imbroglio
• kickup
• misunderstanding
• quarrel
• rhubarb
• row
• scrap
• set-to
• spat
• squabble
• tiff

Choose the Right Synonym for wrangle

quarrel, wrangle, altercation, squabble mean a noisy dispute usually marked by anger.

quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.

a brief squabble over what to do next

Examples of wrangle in a Sentence

Verb

They were wrangling over money.

He made a living wrangling horses.

Noun

They had a bitter wrangle over custody of their children.

there was a bit of a wrangle over how much money to give the high school for its sports programs

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Josh Brolin is recalling his mother Jane Cameron Agee’s animal wrangling prowess. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024

The vote — held after weeks of wrangling over 2025 budget plans to hike taxes and cut public spending — was not a close call, with the number of deputies supporting the motion far exceeding the 288 necessary for the motion to pass in parliament, the National Assembly. —Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024

Noun

Dive tour operators and anglers wrangle In St. Petersburg, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) temporarily closed pier fishing on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge after brown pelicans, ensnared by fishing lines, died. —Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2024

Parliamentary wrangles have recently toppled a government elsewhere. —Helen Regan, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Old High German ringan to struggle — more at wring

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wrangle

1 of 2 verb

wran·​gle ˈraŋ-gəl 

wrangled; wrangling -g(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to have an angry quarrel

2

: to take part in an argument

3

: to herd and care for livestock and especially horses on the range

wrangle

2 of 2 noun

: an angry, noisy, or lengthy dispute or quarrel