jangle
Americanverb (used without object)
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jangles,
present (3rd person singular)
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jangled,
past participle, past
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jangling
present participle
-
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.
-
to speak angrily; wrangle.
verb (used with object)
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jangles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jangled,
past participle, past
-
jangling
present participle
-
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
-
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
-
have been janglingperfect progressive
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has been janglingperfect progressive
Past
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jangledsimple
-
had jangledperfect
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was janglingprogressive
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were janglingprogressive
-
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:
There's credit in the bank and time on their side, but Clarke and his team will want their fate sealed as soon as possible before the nerves start to jangle.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2023
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
Hearing the jangle of keys, Sabir, a senior from Afghanistan, emerges from the copy room.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 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
Even through my nerves and exhaustion, I felt a jangle of excitement.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
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
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
I’ve never listened to heavy rock or stuff that jangles my nerves, because I’m already jangled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2017
“Doing too much can make a family feel like it’s someone else’s home,” says Josh Digrugilliers, 26, the group’s local housing specialist, whose crowded key chain jangles in reminder of all the refugees in need.
From New York Times ● Dec. 24, 2016
When the clinic bell jangles again, I peek up long enough to see Jason’s mother isn’t holding a guitar.
From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord
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
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
Her nerves are jangled, she loses sleep, her dogs panic and she generally feels unsafe and forgotten, worried that new development in her neighborhood would just bring more traffic, noise and air pollution.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 27, 2022
On the outside she pretended to be calm, even though her insides jangled.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
That is jangling nerves in Kosovo and Bosnia.
From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2026
He’s also the guy whose banged-up right throwing shoulder is jangling pregame nerves from Waterville to Woonsocket.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 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
A jangling set of house keys was once synonymous with American success: the striver’s ultimate prize.
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
I wonder if Madge walks around her home jangling.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
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.
