wrangle
wrangle Lexical Profile
wrangle Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To engage in a long, complicated, or noisy argument or dispute.
"Lawmakers continued to wrangle over the exact wording of the environmental bill well into the night."
To manage, control, or organize something unruly, complex, or difficult to handle (often used figuratively of data, schedules, or people).
"As the project coordinator, she had to wrangle dozens of freelance designers and keep everyone on schedule."
North American To round up, herd, or take charge of livestock, such as horses or cattle.
"The experienced ranch hands set out at dawn to wrangle the stray horses from the lower pasture."
To obtain or accomplish something by persistent effort, persuasion, or clever manipulation.
"He managed to wrangle an exclusive interview with the visiting diplomat before her flight departed."
• noun
A long, complicated, and often noisy argument or dispute.
"The committee's latest meeting devolved into a bitter wrangle over how to allocate the remaining budget."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with 'wangle' in the sense of obtaining something through cleverness or manipulation; however, using 'wrangle' in this context (e.g., 'wrangle an invitation') is now widely accepted in informal English.
• Rhymes for wrangle
Word Origin & Etymology
Dating back to the late 14th century, the word originates from Middle English 'wranglen', likely borrowed from Low German 'wrangeln' (to struggle or wrestle), which is a frequentative form related to 'wring'.