wrestle

American  

[res-uhl] / ˈrɛs əl /

verb (used without object)

wrestled, wrestling

1. to engage in wrestling.

2. to contend, as in a struggle for mastery; grapple.

   to wrestle with one's conscience.

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verb (used with object)

wrestled, wrestling

1. to contend with in wrestling.

2. to force by or as if by wrestling.

3. to throw (a calf or other animal) for branding.

noun

1. an act of or a bout at wrestling.

2. a struggle.

wrestle British  

/ ˈrɛsəl /

verb

1. to fight (another person) by holding, throwing, etc, without punching with the closed fist

2. (intr) to participate in wrestling

3. to fight with (a person, problem, or thing)

   wrestle with one's conscience

4. (tr) to move laboriously, as with wrestling movements

5. (tr) to throw (an animal) for branding

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noun

1. the act of wrestling

2. a struggle or tussle

Other Word Forms

• outwrestle verb (used with object)
• unwrestled adjective
• wrestler noun

Etymology

Origin of wrestle

before 1100; Middle English wrestlen, wrastlen (v.), Old English *wrǣstlian (compare Old English wrǣstlere wrestler), frequentative of wrǣstan to wrest; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German worstelen

Example Sentences

The Latin American giant had objective reasons to rebound in 2025: An unyieldingly hawkish central bank wrestled inflation back below 5% annually.

From Barron's

She imagined herself forced to wrestle a huge and hideous Egyptian in the arena.

From The Wall Street Journal

Earlier on Wednesday, Streeting told the health and social care select committee the decision to go ahead with the trial was "one that I wrestle with on a daily basis".

From BBC

He has also won eight WWF tag team titles and also has wrestled as Cactus Jack, Dude Love and under his own name.

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier this week, another bystander named Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, was also hailed a "hero" after he wrestled a gun from one of the attackers.

From BBC

Related Words

• contend
• grapple
• scuffle
• strive
• tangle
• tussle