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

“People were cool. And there was always enough floating to the cauldron top that I never had to wrestle or worry about a wheel not being done enough.”

From Literature

The little girl of about five clutches tight to the doll she has tucked under her arm, while her toddler-sized brother tries to wrestle it away from her.

From Literature

She lunged forward, taking the branch in her teeth, then wrestled it from the boy and flung it away.

From Literature

Families with millions of dollars sometimes wrestle with the burden that money will put on their children.

From MarketWatch

Season 2 returned nine years later to wrestle with Peak TV’s onslaught.

From Salon

Related Words

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