wrangle

American  

[rang-guhl] / ˈræŋ gəl /

verb (used without object)

wrangled, wrangling

1. to argue or dispute, especially in a noisy or angry manner.

   Synonyms:

   brawl, quarrel

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verb (used with object)

wrangled, wrangling

1. to argue or dispute.

2. to tend or round up (cattle, horses, or other livestock).

3. to obtain, often by contrivance or scheming; wangle.

   He wrangled a job through a friend.

noun

1. a noisy or angry dispute; altercation.

   Synonyms:

   argument, brawl, quarrel

wrangle British  

/ ˈræŋɡəl /

verb

1. (intr) to argue, esp noisily or angrily

2. (tr) to encourage, persuade, or obtain by argument

3. (tr) to herd (cattle or horses)

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noun

1. a noisy or angry argument

Other Word Forms

• outwrangle verb (used with object)
• unwrangling adjective

Etymology

Origin of wrangle

1350–1400; Middle English, apparently < Low German wrangeln, frequentative of wrangen to struggle, make an uproar; akin to wring

Example Sentences

Thirteen of the 85 Federalist Papers wrangle with how best to handle this threat, she notes in her history of American civil-military relations.

From The Wall Street Journal

She was one of many authors he wrangled—alcoholic William Faulkner, neurotic Dr. Seuss, industrious James Michener, imperious Philip Roth.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The two of us get together and we're like a couple of naughty kids at school that need to be wrangled to be focused," he said.

From BBC

But legislation to finalise it is currently caught in a wrangle between the Lords and the Commons.

From BBC

For politicians, what’s “in” at any moment is important to wrangle votes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• altercation
• bickering
• brawl
• brouhaha
• disagreement
• falling-out
• flap
• fracas
• hassle
• quarrel
• ruckus
• squabble
• tiff