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

The 1925 court case wrangled with not only the theory of evolution, but also access to ideas, respect for religion, and the tensions between science and theology in ways that are remarkably familiar today. —Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2024

This Mac mini is said to be closer in size to the Apple TV than the current mini, but still uses an internal power supply so that owners won't have to wrangle a power brick. —Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 16 Sep. 2024

Noun

Immigration wrangle Switzerland has been part of the EU’s Schengen open-borders area since 2008. —Kali Hays, Fortune Europe, 16 Oct. 2024

Grillo's Flag wrangles the squad, which consists of Frankenstein (David Harbour), The Bride (Indira Varma), GI Robot (Sean Gunn), Weasel (also Sean Gunn), Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), and Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao). —Christian Holub, EW.com, 3 Oct. 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