Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, 3rd person singular presenttense wrangles, present participle wrangling, past tense, past participle wrangled
verb
If you say that someone is wranglingwith someone over a question or issue, you mean that they have been arguing angrily for quite a long time about it.
The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. [VERB + over]
A group of MPs is still wrangling with the government over the timing of elections. [V + with/over]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: argue, fight, row, dispute More Synonyms of wrangle
Wrangle is also a noun.
The party was torn apart by wrangles over fiscal policy.
He was involved in a legal wrangle with the Health Secretary.
wranglingWord forms: plural wranglingsuncountable noun [also NOUN in plural]
There was some wrangling between creditors about who was to blame.
More Synonyms of wrangle
wrangle in British English
(ˈræŋɡəl)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to argue, esp noisily or angrily
2. (transitive)
to encourage, persuade, or obtain by argument
3. (transitive) Western US and Canadian
to herd (cattle or horses)
noun
4.
a noisy or angry argument
Word origin
C14: from Low German wrangeln; related to Norwegian vrangla
wrangle in American English1
(ˈræŋgəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈwrangled or ˈwrangling
1.
to quarrel angrily and noisily
2.
to argue; dispute
verb transitive
3.
to argue (a person) into or out of something
noun
4.
an angry, noisy dispute or quarrel
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈquarrel
Word origin
ME wranglen, freq. of wringen: see wring
wrangle in American English2
(ˈræŋgəl)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈwrangled or ˈwrangling
US
to herd (livestock, esp. saddle horses)
Word origin
back-form. < wrangler2
Examples of 'wrangle' in a sentence
wrangle
They were jailed for five years after a legal wrangle over their gun permits.
The Sun (2016)
After more than two years of legal wrangling the six were jailed.
The Sun (2016)
The legal wrangling is not over.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But a bitter legal wrangle with a former agent and an unpaid 100,000 debt saw him bankrupt.
The Sun (2016)
The Munich wall has been the subject of more than a year of legal wrangling between residents and the city before finally being built.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They announced a'fair' compromise after two days of legal wrangling.
The Sun (2016)
The legal wrangle was pretty much inevitable.
The Sun (2010)
Usually this manifests itself in a long wrangle as to where the new activity belongs.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
So began a year of wrangling and internal political manoeuvres.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The settlement follows four months of legal wrangling between the corporation and the council.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is not some paltry wrangle over party funding.
The Sun (2012)
It came as ministers agreed a deal to end months of bitter wrangling.
The Sun (2011)
The jury was discharged over a legal wrangle.
The Sun (2009)
These formal encounters are always an awkward mixture of grandstanding and highly technical wrangling about the terms of trade.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Over the decades they have an unhealthy reputation for internal wrangling while other teams get on with playing together.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Since then there's been almost a year of wrangling about how to implement his report.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But as the long constitutional wrangle begins, he must keep things simple.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In both instances, wrangling over how much information should be made public is holding up the process.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A long wrangle over the their assets began.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The project has been stalled amid wrangling over how much of the cost should be paid by the City.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But the trust was not properly set up, leading to a legal wrangle over who was owed money.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It will certainly be less hassle to come to a sensible compromise on this, rather than getting involved in a legal wrangle.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The US currency eased as politicians there continued to wrangle about the budget.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The FA board is being torn apart by internal wrangling.
The Sun (2011)
A long wrangle ensued about what exactly was binding on the Army.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
As they made their way to London, the wrangling began about money.
Arthur Herman THE SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT: The Scots' Invention of the Modern World (2002)
We now have the prospect of much wrangling in the General Synod.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But, with no timetable for implementation, the move risks plunging the party into years of internal wrangling.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the wrangling is still going on, with departments big and small yet to reach agreement with the Chancellor.
The Sun (2015)
To add insult to injury, it is legal wrangling over the controversial Spanish home that is stopping stalling a settlement.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
wrangle
British English: wrangle VERB
If you say that someone is wrangling with someone over a question or issue, you mean that they have been arguing angrily for quite a long time about it.
The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems.
American English: wrangle
Brazilian Portuguese: brigar
Chinese: 争吵长时间的
European Spanish: discutir
French: se disputer
German: rangeln
Italian: litigare
Japanese: 論争している
Korean: 언쟁을 벌이다
European Portuguese: brigar
Latin American Spanish: discutir
(verb)
Definition
to argue noisily or angrily
The two parties are still wrangling over the timing of the election.
Synonyms
argue
They were still arguing. I could hear them down the road.
fight
The children were always arguing and fighting with each other.
row
They rowed all the time.
dispute
Whole towns disputed with neighboring villages over boundaries.
scrap
They are always scrapping.
disagree
The two men disagreed about what to do next.
fall out (informal)
She fell out with her friend.
contend
The two main groups contended for power.
quarrel
My brother quarrelled with my father.
brawl
They brawled in the street.
squabble
The siblings squabble like they did when they were children.
spar
The sparring couple have declared a truce in public.
bicker
The two children bickered constantly.
have words
We had words and she stormed out.
altercate
(noun)
Definition
a noisy or angry argument
He was involved in a legal wrangle with the Health Secretary.
Synonyms
argument
She got into a heated argument with a stranger.
row
The meeting descended into an unpleasant row.
clash
Inside government, there was a clash of views.
dispute
The dispute between them is settled.
contest
a bitter contest over who should control the state's future
set-to (informal)
a bit of a set-to between Smith and his record company
controversy
The proposed cuts have caused considerable controversy.
falling-out (informal)
quarrel
I had a terrible quarrel with my other brothers.
brawl
He had been in a street brawl.
barney (informal)
squabble
There have been minor squabbles about phone bills.
bickering
tiff
She was walking home after a tiff with her best friend.
altercation
I had an altercation with some people who objected to our filming.
slanging match (British)
They conducted a public slanging match on television.
turf war (informal)
angry exchange
argy-bargy (British, informal)
bagarre (French)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of altercation
Definition
a noisy argument
I had an altercation with some people who objected to our filming.
Synonyms
argument,
row,
clash,
disagreement,
dispute,
controversy,
contention,
quarrel,
squabble,
wrangle,
bickering,
discord,
dissension
in the sense of bicker
Definition
to argue over petty matters
The two children bickered constantly.
Synonyms
quarrel,
fight,
argue,
row (informal),
clash,
dispute,
scrap (informal),
disagree,
fall out (informal),
squabble,
spar,
wrangle,
cross swords,
fight like cat and dog,
go at it hammer and tongs,
altercate
in the sense of brawl
Definition
to quarrel or fight noisily
They brawled in the street.
Synonyms
fight,
battle,
scrap (informal),
wrestle,
wrangle,
tussle,
scuffle,
go at it hammer and tongs,
fight like Kilkenny cats,
altercate
Nearby words of
wrangle
wound up
wounding
wraith
wrangle
wrap
wrap something up
wrap up
Synonyms of 'wrangle'
wrangle
Explore 'wrangle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of brawl
Definition
a loud disagreement or fight
He had been in a street brawl.
Synonyms
fight,
battle,
row (informal),
clash,
disorder,
scrap (informal),
fray,
squabble,
wrangle,
skirmish,
scuffle,
punch-up (British, informal),
free-for-all (informal),
fracas,
altercation,
rumpus,
broil,
tumult,
affray,
shindig (informal),
donnybrook,
ruckus (informal),
scrimmage,
shindy (informal),
biffo (Australian, slang),
bagarre,
melee or mêlée
in the sense of clash
Definition
a collision or conflict
Inside government, there was a clash of views.
Synonyms
disagreement,
difference,
division,
argument,
dispute,
dissent,
difference of opinion
in the sense of contend
Definition
to compete or fight
The two main groups contended for power.
Synonyms
compete,
fight,
struggle,
clash,
contest,
strive,
emulate,
vie,
grapple,
jostle,
skirmish,
dispute
in the sense of contest
Definition
a struggle for power or control
a bitter contest over who should control the state's future
Synonyms
struggle,
fight,
battle,
debate,
conflict,
dispute,
encounter,
controversy,
combat,
discord,
turf war (informal)
in the sense of controversy
Definition
argument or debate concerning a matter about which there is strong disagreement
The proposed cuts have caused considerable controversy.
Synonyms
argument,
debate,
row,
discussion,
dispute,
contention,
quarrel,
squabble,
strife,
wrangle,
wrangling,
polemic,
altercation,
dissension
in the sense of disagree
Definition
to have differing opinions or argue about (something)
The two men disagreed about what to do next.
Synonyms
differ (in opinion),
argue,
debate,
clash,
dispute,
contest,
fall out (informal),
contend,
dissent,
quarrel,
wrangle,
bicker,
take issue with,
have words (informal),
cross swords,
be at sixes and sevens
in the sense of dispute
Whole towns disputed with neighboring villages over boundaries.
Synonyms
argue,
fight,
clash,
row,
disagree,
fall out (informal),
contend,
feud,
quarrel,
brawl,
squabble,
spar,
wrangle,
bicker,
have an argument,
cross swords,
be at sixes and sevens,
fight like cat and dog,
go at it hammer and tongs,
altercate
in the sense of dispute
Definition
an argument between two or more people
The dispute between them is settled.
Synonyms
argument,
row,
clash,
controversy,
disturbance,
contention,
feud,
quarrel,
brawl,
squabble,
wrangle,
difference of opinion,
tiff,
dissension,
turf war (informal),
shindig (informal),
shindy (informal),
bagarre
in the sense of fall out
Definition
to disagree and quarrel
She fell out with her friend.
Synonyms
argue,
fight,
row,
clash,
differ,
disagree,
quarrel,
squabble,
have a row,
have words,
come to blows,
cross swords,
altercate
in the sense of fight
The children were always arguing and fighting with each other.
Synonyms
quarrel,
argue,
row,
dispute,
fall out (informal),
squabble,
wrangle,
bicker
Additional synonyms
in the sense of have words
Definition
to have an argument or disagreement
We had words and she stormed out.
Synonyms
argue,
fight,
row,
clash,
disagree,
fall out (informal),
feud,
quarrel,
squabble,
wrangle,
bicker,
have a row,
lock horns,
cross swords,
be at each other's throats,
have a tiff (informal),
have a barney (British, informal)
in the sense of quarrel
Definition
to engage in a disagreement or dispute
My brother quarrelled with my father.
Synonyms
disagree,
fight,
argue,
row,
clash,
dispute,
scrap (informal),
differ,
fall out (informal),
brawl,
squabble,
spar,
wrangle,
bicker,
be at odds,
lock horns,
cross swords,
fight like cat and dog,
go at it hammer and tongs,
altercate
in the sense of quarrel
Definition
an angry disagreement
I had a terrible quarrel with my other brothers.
Synonyms
disagreement,
fight,
row,
difference (of opinion),
argument,
dispute,
controversy,
breach,
scrap (informal),
disturbance,
misunderstanding,
contention,
feud,
fray,
brawl,
spat,
squabble,
strife,
wrangle,
skirmish,
vendetta,
discord,
fracas,
commotion,
tiff,
altercation,
broil,
tumult,
dissension,
affray,
turf war (informal),
shindig (informal),
disputation,
dissidence,
shindy (informal),
bagarre,
biffo (Australian, slang)
in the sense of row
Definition
to quarrel noisily
They rowed all the time.
Synonyms
quarrel,
fight,
argue,
dispute,
scrap (informal),
brawl,
squabble,
spar,
wrangle,
go at it hammer and tongs
in the sense of row
Definition
a controversy or dispute
The meeting descended into an unpleasant row.
Synonyms
quarrel,
dispute,
argument,
squabble,
tiff,
trouble,
controversy,
scrap (informal),
fuss,
falling-out (informal),
fray,
brawl,
fracas,
altercation,
slanging match (British),
shouting match (informal),
turf war (informal),
shindig (informal),
ruction (informal),
ruckus (informal),
shindy (informal),
bagarre
in the sense of scrap
Definition
to quarrel or fight
They are always scrapping.
Synonyms
fight,
argue,
row,
fall out (informal),
barney (informal),
squabble,
spar,
wrangle,
bicker,
have words,
come to blows,
have a shouting match (informal)
in the sense of set-to
Definition
a brief disagreement or fight
a bit of a set-to between Smith and his record company
Synonyms
fight,
row,
argument,
brush,
scrap (informal),
disagreement,
quarrel,
barney (informal),
spat,
squabble,
wrangle,
fracas,
slanging match (British),
dust-up (informal),
argy-bargy (British, informal),
biffo (Australian, slang)
in the sense of slanging match
Definition
an angry quarrel in which people trade insults
They conducted a public slanging match on television.
Synonyms
quarrel,
row,
argument,
set-to (informal),
barney (informal),
spat,
altercation,
ding-dong,
argy-bargy (British, informal),
battle of words
in the sense of spar
Definition
to argue with someone
The sparring couple have declared a truce in public.
Synonyms
argue,
row,
squabble,
dispute,
scrap (informal),
fall out (informal),
spat,
wrangle,
skirmish,
bicker,
have a tiff
in the sense of squabble
Definition
to quarrel over a small matter
The siblings squabble like they did when they were children.
Synonyms
quarrel,
fight,
argue,
row,
clash,
dispute,
scrap (informal),
fall out (informal),
brawl,
spar,
wrangle,
bicker,
have words,
fight like cat and dog,
go at it hammer and tongs
Additional synonyms
in the sense of squabble
Definition
a petty quarrel
There have been minor squabbles about phone bills.
Synonyms
quarrel,
fight,
row,
argument,
dispute,
set-to (informal),
scrap (informal),
disagreement,
barney (informal),
spat,
difference of opinion,
tiff,
turf war (informal),
bagarre
in the sense of tiff
Definition
a minor quarrel
She was walking home after a tiff with her best friend.