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wrangle

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun wrangle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wrangle are altercation, quarrel, and squabble. While all these words mean "a noisy dispute usually marked by anger," wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

When could altercation be used to replace wrangle?

The synonyms altercation and wrangle are sometimes interchangeable, but altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

When can quarrel be used instead of wrangle?

The words quarrel and wrangle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

When would squabble be a good substitute for wrangle?

Although the words squabble and wrangle have much in common, squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.

a brief squabble over what to do next

Examples of wrangle in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
That’s how the Fed wrangles runaway inflation or rising unemployment. Bryan Mena, CNN, 16 Sep. 2024 It’s designed from the ground up as a three-screen laptop and, as such, there are no messy cables to remember and wrangle, and the whole unit folds up into one solitary package for taking on the road. New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2024
Verb
This Mac mini is said to be closer in size to the Apple TV than the current mini, but still uses an internal power supply so that owners won't have to wrangle a power brick. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 16 Sep. 2024 Rocio Fabbro reports on how regulators are struggling to wrangle these partnerships. Peter Green, Quartz, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wrangle 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrangle
Noun
  • Ties have been at their lowest point in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan and Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
    Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Yet, none of that was seen on ABC by the millions who subscribe to DirecTV as Disney was in a contract dispute with the satellite provider at the time.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Right out of the gate, the brothers are in a contentious mood, needling each other with elbows and bickering like little siblings.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2024
  • Lehane urged some of the largest crypto investors and companies, many of whom were bickering on Twitter, to instead form a coalition devoted to changing the public narrative.
    Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The farmers’ quarrels with vampires make sense, especially in smaller cattle herds, where losing even one cow can significantly hurt a farmer’s livelihood.
    Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Khodr was concerned about rising tensions between the two communities competing for limited aid, and opened separate shelters to avoid quarrels; fifty-nine for Lebanese and five for Syrians.
    Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Whitehouse, the senator who requested the report, is using the findings to argue for higher tax rates on the wealthiest Americans, echoing the Harris platform.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
  • Catch up quick: The FTC argued the merger would reduce head-to-head competition in the U.S. handbag market and enable them to raise prices for consumers.
    Kimberly Chin, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The politically tinged fight is playing out in federal court in Texas, where US District Judge Reed O’Connor has homed in on standard language used by the Justice Department calling for diversity, equity and inclusion to be taken into consideration when choosing corporate monitors.
    Evan Perez, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
  • The crypto industry is pouring money into the fight to control Congress, and the Massachusetts race just isn't enough of a factor to become a good investment.
    Mike Deehan, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The flare comes after nearly a week of flares and coronal plasma ejections spat toward the planet that threatened disruptions to power and communications systems on Earth.
    Greg Wehner, Fox News, 15 May 2024
  • Israeli media reported that coalition lawmaker Simcha Rothman had joined a Sukkot march during which ultra-Orthodox Jews spat at churches.
    JULIA FRANKEL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2023
Noun
  • Embiid got into an altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes after the 76ers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
  • An Arkansas State Police officer was arrested Tuesday following an altercation with his wife. Sgt.
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Next time you’re caught in a disagreement, try a lighthearted, funny remark or make a silly face to lighten the atmosphere.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
  • There is disagreement over whether Medicare should be run by the private sector.
    Stephanie Armour | KFF Health News, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near wrangle

Cite this Entry

“Wrangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrangle. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on wrangle

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