jangle
Americanverb (used without object)
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jangles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jangled,
past participle, past
-
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)
-
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
-
to sound or cause to sound discordantly, harshly, or unpleasantly
the telephone jangled
-
(tr) to produce a jarring effect on
the accident jangled his nerves
-
an archaic word for wrangle
noun
-
a harsh, unpleasant ringing noise
-
an argument or quarrel
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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janglesimple
-
janglessimple
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have jangledperfect
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has jangledperfect
-
am janglingprogressive
-
are janglingprogressive
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is janglingprogressive
-
have been janglingperfect progressive
-
has been janglingperfect progressive
Past
-
jangledsimple
-
had jangledperfect
-
was janglingprogressive
-
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:
The “soothing” sound in this video, apparently, is the jangle of chains.
From Salon ● Feb. 25, 2025
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
“It’s a big space,” he said in an interview, away from the jangle of slot machines and the smoke-laden casino floor.
From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2024
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
They landed on the floor with a soft jangle.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
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 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
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
The bell above the clinic door jangles as she leaves.
From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord
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
Hearts' nerves jangled slightly when Shankland was sent off in injury time - the captain given two questionable yellow cards after tangling twice with Rocky Bushiri.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2023
Nerves about a global recession were jangled on Tuesday by weak U.S. housing market data and the U.S.
From Reuters ● May 25, 2022
Then she bobbed off the swing so forcefully, the chain jangled.
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Trump used a fat black marker pen to sign the deal, with the crockery jangling on the table after the dinner or lobster and caviar, as he put pen to paper.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
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
But nerves are jangling inside Labour because of what many see as unforced errors.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 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
He and Hermione were waiting, listening, their nerves jangling....
From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling
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.
