jangle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to produce a harsh, discordant sound, as two comparatively small, thin, or hollow pieces of metal hitting together.
The charms on her bracelet jangle as she moves.
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to speak angrily; wrangle.
verb (used with object)
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to cause to make a harsh, discordant, usually metallic sound.
He jangled the pots and pans.
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to cause to become irritated or upset.
The loud noise of the motors jangled his nerves.
noun
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a harsh or discordant sound.
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an argument, dispute, or quarrel.
verb
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to sound or cause to sound discordantly, harshly, or unpleasantly
the telephone jangled
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(tr) to produce a jarring effect on
the accident jangled his nerves
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an archaic word for wrangle
noun
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a harsh, unpleasant ringing noise
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an argument or quarrel
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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janglesimple
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janglessimple
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have jangledperfect
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has jangledperfect
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am janglingprogressive
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are janglingprogressive
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is janglingprogressive
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have been janglingperfect progressive
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has been janglingperfect progressive
Past
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jangledsimple
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had jangledperfect
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was janglingprogressive
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were janglingprogressive
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had been janglingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jangle
1250–1300; Middle English janglen < Old French jangler < Germanic; compare Middle Dutch jangelen to haggle, whine
Explanation
To jangle is to make a metallic sound like a bell, a bunch of keys, or spurs on cowboy boots. Little kids waiting for Santa Claus might wake up abruptly, thinking they've heard his sleigh bells jangle on the roof. A jangle is similar to a jingle, a ringing, bell-like noise, but it's typically a bit harsher or more discordant. You might contrast the delicate jingle of silver bracelets with the jangle of an enormous ring of keys. The word can also be used figuratively: something that makes you feel uneasy or upset jangles your nerves. An earlier definition of jangle was "talk excessively, chatter" or "slanderous conversation, gossip." The "harsh sound" meaning first arose in the 15th century.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Gallagher and Brazil striker Richarlison, who headed Spurs' second for his 11th goal this term, epitomised what De Zerbi demands, with Emi Buendia's injury-time Villa reply far too late for any Spurs nerves to jangle.
From BBC ● May 3, 2026
She recognized that there’s nothing more dramatic than human contradiction, the clash and jangle of self-image and public perception.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2024
Its improbable-seeming transitions — from post-punk jangle to boy-band crooning to hip-hop drum loops — are the source of the track’s infectious vitality.
From New York Times ● Dec. 21, 2022
Even with 2 inches of rain that softened the course, the front that cleared out the clouds brought enough wind to jangle the nerves at every turn.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2022
The footsteps retreated, then returned with a jangle of keys.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
In the hours before the final, Pan Wenge’s silver headdress jingles and jangles as she speaks enthusiastically, preparing to cheer on Dongmen village.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2024
America has gasped en masse watching aliens detonate the White House in the movie “Independence Day” and, at 3 a.m. in Los Angeles, the telephone of its young star, Will Smith, jangles him awake.
From New York Times ● Nov. 9, 2021
She used that period to build the homespun rhythms that created the album’s unique nervous system: the percussive instrumentation includes “collar jangles and thrashing”, “lighter on Wurlitzer” and “water tower”.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 18, 2020
She has that quality here too, a cuteness that jangles, in a perhaps accidental but intriguing kind of way, with the character’s blooming toughness, sharpness, and confidence.
From Slate ● Mar. 14, 2019
He has thick blond hair that stands up almost in knots, wears old suit pants for comfort, and jangles his keys in his pockets with his hands.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
That left Brook and Jos Buttler to get the 42 runs required and nerves probably jangled when the England skipper misjudged a sweep on 42 and was lbw to Jeffrey Vandersay.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
He jangled the prop handcuffs he was already wearing.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2023
But if the headlines stemming from the annual report of the Social Security trustees jangled you, take a deep breath.
From Reuters ● Apr. 4, 2023
Asteroid 2023 DZ2 is three times the size of the one that jangled nerves and blew out windows over the Russian industrial city of Chelyabinsk 10 years ago.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 23, 2023
He tried to calm his nerves, which had been jangled by the unusually strong earthquake.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
He describes the last of these with gentle clarity as “a lot like the jarring, jangling wrongness of the wrongly hit baseball.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
After a 3-0 thrashing at Chelsea last week in the Champions League, followed by a shaky win over Alaves to claim pole position in La Liga, nerves were jangling among home fans.
From Barron's ● Dec. 2, 2025
And because it’s Area, hardware was plentiful in distressed leather jackets jangling and dripping with silver spikes and chain mail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2024
A jangling set of house keys was once synonymous with American success: the striver’s ultimate prize.
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
One last time it was shut off, and then, apparently, the OIC gave up: The bell just rang and rang, unanswered, jangling my nerves and no doubt many others’.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
