wrangle

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To convince or influence (someone) by arguing or contending.
2. (transitive) Followed by out of: to elicit (something) from a person by arguing or bargaining.
3. (archaic, rare, transitive) To speak or write (something) in an argumentative or contentious manner.
4. (archaic, rare, transitive) To spend (time) arguing or quarrelling.
5. (US, Western, transitive) To herd (horses or other livestock).
6. (US, Western, broadly, humorous, transitive) To herd (horses or other livestock).
7. (US, Western, figuratively, transitive) To herd (horses or other livestock).
8. (obsolete, transitive) Followed by out of: to compel or drive (someone or something) away through arguing.
9. (obsolete, transitive) Followed by out: to put forward arguments on (a case, a matter disagreed upon, etc.).
10. (obsolete, reflexive, transitive) To cause (oneself) grief through arguing or quarrelling.
11. (also, figuratively, intransitive) To quarrel angrily and noisily; to bicker.
12. (intransitive) To make harsh noises as if quarrelling.
13. (also, figuratively, intransitive) To argue, to debate; also (dated), to debate or discuss publicly, especially about a thesis at a university.

Noun

1. (countable) An angry dispute; a noisy quarrel; an altercation.
2. (uncountable) Angry disputation; noisy quarrelling.
3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A contentious argument or response.
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A controversy.

Synonyms

quarrel

dispute

squabble

brawl

argue

bicker

argument

row

altercation

altercate

controversy

scuffle

contention

scrap

haggle

spat

debate

contest

jangle

disagree

discuss

broil

disputation

bickering

fight

tussle

words

wrangling

haggling

contradict

dustup

argumentation

run-in

have a row

scene

strife

struggle

tend

tilt

ride herd

tumult

wrestle

argle-bargle

argy-bargy

bandy words

be quarrelsome

compete for

negotiate with

rail at

war of words

Translations

krakelen

streiten

se disputer

καυγαδίζω

querelle

çekişmek

Streit

kijven

ruzie maken

se quereller

bekvechten

φιλονικώ

φιλονικία

litigare

kiften

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹæŋɡl̩/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: wranglen

Cognate with Middle Dutch: wrangen

Cognate with Middle Low German: wrangen

Cognate with Low German: wrangeln

Cognate with Middle Dutch: wringen

Cognate with Danish: vringle

Cognate with German: rangeln

In summary

The verb is derived from Middle English wranglen, wrangle (“to contend with (someone) in a test of strength; (figuratively) to make misleading arguments to entrap”); from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word related to Middle Dutch wrangen and Middle Low German wrangen (“to cause an uproar; to struggle, wrestle”) (whence Low German wrangeln (“to wrangle”)), related to Middle Dutch wringen (“to twist; to wrest; to wring; to struggle, wrestle”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wringaną (“to squeeze; to twist; to wring”).
The noun is derived from the verb.
Cognates
* Danish vringle (“to twist, entangle”)
* German rangeln (“to wrestle”)