wrangling

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "wrangling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of engaging in a dispute or argument, often in a contentious or complicated manner. Example: "The two parties spent hours wrangling over the terms of the contract, unable to reach a consensus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Analysts said it was clear that more than four months of wrangling over the terms of an extension to the country's massive bailout programme has taken its toll.

The Guardian - Business

After months of wrangling, the broadcasters finally agreed seven leaders would be allowed to take part, allowing David Cameron to dodge a head-to-head with Ed Miliband.

The Guardian

After months of wrangling over the composition, format and timing of the debates, the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 announced the final deal with the political parties on Saturday.

The Guardian

Israeli officials blamed Abbas, and his decision to restart his push for membership of 15 UN bodies for the move, which was itself a Palestinian response to delays and wrangling over the prisoners' release.

The Guardian

After months of wrangling, Greece still can't reach an agreement with its creditors to secure fresh financial assistance and doesn't have the ready cash to make a payment due to the International Monetary Fund at the end of next week.

The Guardian - Business

I love waking up for breakfast, I love having breakfast for lunch, I have a 98% success rate of wrangling breakfasts out of meetings – and for dinner, well, breakfast will always do.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

IMF officials are known to be concerned that the impetus for reforms has wained and in some cases descended into wrangling over bailout programmes, as is the case in Europe between Brussels and Athens.

The Guardian - Business

I, thankfully, was spared, so was able to take care of wrangling the two enormous suitcases, car seat, pram, nappy bag, baby and travel documents all the way from Shepherd's Bush to the lemon-scented, bougainvillea-hung courtyard of El Fenn.

The Guardian - Travel

But Sharif's power has been curbed by a series of bruising fights with Pakistan's powerful military establishment and the treason case now appears tied up in legal wrangling.

The Guardian

The Democrats won that round, but after more wrangling and a legal fight that went to the Supreme Court, Republicans mostly got their map.

The Economist

After decades of wrangling the tactic will come before America's Supreme Court on March 5th in the case of Halliburton v Erica P John Fund.Reflecting the stakes, 11 briefs have been filed with the court on behalf of Halliburton.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wrangling" when you want to convey the sense of a difficult or contentious process of managing or resolving something. For example, "wrangling data" implies a complex and challenging task of cleaning and organizing data.

Common error

While "wrangling" effectively conveys complexity, overuse can sound pretentious. Opt for simpler terms like "managing" or "handling" when the situation isn't genuinely difficult.

Linguistic Context

The term "wrangling" functions primarily as a gerund, acting as a noun to describe the act of engaging in a dispute or managing something complex. Ludwig AI provides examples showing its use in diverse contexts, like "wrangling" data or over political terms.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

14%

Travel

3%

Less common in

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wrangling" is a versatile term primarily used as a gerund, denoting the act of engaging in disputes or managing complex situations. Ludwig AI confirms that its register is generally neutral. While suitable for diverse contexts like News & Media and general discussions, it may be too informal for strictly academic or business environments. When considering alternatives, "managing" or "handling" can serve as simpler substitutes, while "arguing", "bickering", and "disputing" are closer synonyms. Always consider the context and desired level of formality when using the term "wrangling".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arguing

Focuses specifically on the act of verbal disagreement or debate.

bickering

Implies petty and continuous arguing.

disputing

Highlights the act of questioning or challenging a statement or fact.

contending

Suggests a more formal and strategic form of arguing or competing.

jockeying

Emphasizes maneuvering for position or advantage, often in a competitive context.

grappling

Highlights the struggle to understand or deal with a difficult problem.

managing

Focuses on the act of handling or controlling something, often with difficulty.

handling

Similar to managing, but can also imply dealing with a sensitive situation.

sorting out

Suggests resolving a problem or situation by organizing or clarifying it.

untangling

Emphasizes resolving a complicated or confused situation.

FAQs

How is "wrangling" typically used in a sentence?

"Wrangling" is often used as a gerund (verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun) to describe a contentious argument, dispute, or the act of managing something difficult. For example: "The team spent weeks "wrangling" with the data to prepare it for analysis."

What are some synonyms for "wrangling" that I can use instead?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "arguing", "bickering", "disputing", "managing", or "handling". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "wrangling" formal or informal?

"Wrangling" falls in a neutral register. It's suitable for many contexts but might be too informal for highly formal or academic writing. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "wrangling" and "managing"?

"Wrangling" implies a more difficult, complex, or even contentious process of dealing with something. "Managing" is a more general term for overseeing or controlling something, without necessarily implying difficulty or conflict.