wrangle

[rang-guhl]

verb (used without object)

wrangled, wrangling 

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

   Synonyms: brawl, quarrel

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

/ 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)

noun

1. a noisy or angry argument

Other Word Forms

• outwrangle verb (used with object)
• unwrangling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrangle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrangle¹

C14: from Low German wrangeln; related to Norwegian vrangla

Example Sentences

The two TV giants wrangled for weeks over how much Google must pay to carry Disney’s channels, including FX, Disney Jr. and National Geographic.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Then Carlson’s phrasing turned definitive as he admitted that Fuentes has successfully wrangled ideological control of the modern conservative movement: “You won.”

Read more on Salon

The book’s finest pieces wrangle, in elegant prose, with humanity’s contradictions; the weaker ones indulge in name-dropping, footnotes and op-ed invective.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The latest kerfuffle with Canada will likely be sorted and chances generally look good for an agreement with China—at least until the next unpredictable wrangle.

Read more on Barron's

Charter was able to wrangle the ability to offer Disney’s streaming apps, including Disney+ and Hulu, to Spectrum customers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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