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

Explanation

To wrangle is to take part in a long, angry, intense argument, especially over an issue with lots of details. You can also wrangle, or herd, a bunch of cows. Politicians and lawyers frequently wrangle, no cows necessary. Wrangle in its current meaning comes from the nineteenth century American term wrangling, the art of herding cattle, probably with the idea in mind that rounding up those tiresome details is a bit like rounding up all those tiresome cattle; they tend to go flying off in all directions. From wrangler in the cowboy sense we get Wrangler jeans, though not all wranglers wear Wranglers of course.

Example Sentences

He could either exploit the armada as leverage to wrangle a diplomatic deal or pull the trigger.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

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

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

But Messrs. Smith and Delich make for persuasive antagonists, even if one does want to point out, as they wrangle, that there are bigger things around to be concerned about.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

As diplomats wrangle for a breakthrough in what has been Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, Russia has continued to press forward with its assault, bombarding Ukraine daily.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

Love had transmogrified him into a romantic idiot, and they drove him away back into the bedroom to wrangle with his girl over Captain Black.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Related Words

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