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🧒 To manage with effort 💢 To argue loudly 🐄 To herd animals 🗣️ A loud argument 💻 To clean data
to wrangle

to wrangle

6 6.8
To argue loudly for a long time
  • verb
  • /ˈræŋɡəl/
translation icon : discutir
  • The neighbors started to wrangle loudly over their property lines, drawing attention from everyone on the block.

There's nature deterministic and culture deterministic, and then scholars wrangle about which of those is the greater force.

Examples

  • Brian Martinson sat in a back row of the auditorium, watching his colleagues wrangle like lawyers.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Negotiations began in early 1997, even reportedly reaching an agreement in principle that December (Garvin 1997), but collapsed in August 1998, derailed by wrangling over the details and changes in the Panamanian position.

    Academic text (1999)

  • I am not here to wrangle with you.

    Luther (2003)

  • But since you appear ready to wrangle, let's examine your words:

    Blog text (5)

  • The couple was still wrangling when Jory walked past them.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Legislators then wrangled for more than 20 years over whether to award compensation.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Martinson listened to them wrangling.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • So they're trying to wrangle over whether they're going to adopt this FCC rule.

  • Debate: screenfuls of people thoughtfully and sometimes not so thoughtfully wrangling over the issues involved with the topic.

    Blog text (24)

  • Many orchestras around the country are wrangling in the throes of turmoil, leaving their audiences waiting in limbo for the music.

    Blog text (19)

Synonyms

to beef
vsto wrangle
  • Slang
59 8.4

To complain in an angry way about something

is often louder and more openly disruptive than mere complaints
to clash
vsto wrangle
46 3.1

To disagree strongly with another person or group

is similar but emphasizes lasting noisy arguments rather than single force
to bicker
vsto wrangle
36 4.1

Argue again and again with someone about small unimportant things

is angrier and more disruptive than ongoing petty disputes
to quarrel
vsto wrangle
35 2.6

To argue angrily with someone about small things

is noisier and more disruptive, often lasting longer
to haggle
vsto wrangle
26 3.3

To argue about the price to try to pay less

is an angry noisy disagreement often unrelated to negotiation or deal terms
to squabble
vsto wrangle
  • Informal
18 4.4

To argue loudly about small unimportant things

covers loud angry fights that may be serious or prolonged
to feud
vsto wrangle
16 5.6

To have a long bitter argument with someone

is also long but is noisier and more disruptive rather than bitter
to butt heads
vsto wrangle
  • Informal
13 6.3

To argue strongly with each other

is more noisy and prolonged instead of a single sharp clash
to have words
vsto wrangle
  • Informal
11 6.9

Talk angrily to someone because of a disagreement

is typically louder, more disruptive, and often more prolonged
to lock horns
vsto wrangle
  • Informal
5 5.1

To argue strongly with someone about something

is usually louder and more prolonged rather than a single clash
to flite
vsto wrangle
  • Archaic
2 9.9

To argue loudly with someone and continue for a long time

is more angrily disruptive and often longer lasting
to have a quarrel
vsto wrangle
2 2.8

Argue with someone and feel angry or upset afterward

is louder, angrier, and more disruptive rather than just causing upset
to niggle
vsto wrangle
  • UK
1 8.2

To argue about very small, unimportant details

is louder and angrier rather than quiet worrying or nitpicking
to stickle
vsto wrangle
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To argue in a stubborn way about small unimportant details

is more openly angry and noisy rather than merely stubborn
to altercate
vsto wrangle
  • Formal
9.9

To argue angrily, often for a long time or in public

is similarly angry and prolonged but less formal and messier
to brabble
vsto wrangle
  • Archaic
9.9

To argue loudly about small unimportant things

is broader, covering loud and angry disputes not just petty ones
to pettifog
vsto wrangle
  • Archaic
9.9

Argue about small, unimportant details and waste time

is louder and more emotionally charged than pedantic quibbling
to fly at each other
vsto wrangle
  • Informal
7.4

People suddenly fight or shout at each other with strong anger

is often more prolonged and disruptively noisy rather than sudden

Antonyms

to agree
∞ 1.0

Have the same opinion or say yes

to reconcile
38 5.1

To become friendly again after a disagreement

Idioms

to wrangle a better deal
6.3

To negotiate strongly to get a better price or better terms

Phrasal Verbs

to wrangle funds
7.0

To get money by asking people and working hard

How Heated

to feud
16 5.6
to wrangle
6 6.8
quarrel
61 2.0
to argue
607 1.1
to bicker
36 4.1

Surface Forms

wrangle infinitive
wrangled past
wrangled past participle
wrangling present participle
wrangles third person singular

Etymology

Wrangle originally meant 'to struggle', like wrestle, so it came to mean fighting with words — people who 'struggle' with each other loudly or angrily.