jangle

verb

jan·​gle ˈjaŋ-gəl 

jangled; jangling ˈjaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to make a harsh or discordant often ringing sound

keys jangling in my pocket

2

: to quarrel verbally

3

: to talk idly

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to sound harshly or inharmoniously

b

: to excite to tense irritation

jangled nerves

2

: to utter or sound in a discordant, babbling, or chattering way

jangler

ˈjaŋ-g(ə-)lər 

noun

Examples of jangle in a Sentence

Coins jangled out of the machine.

He jangled his keys loudly outside the door.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pressure of expectation and opportunity arrives, and the nerves begin to jangle. —Ava Wallace, New York Times, 28 May 2026

Perhaps too good for his own good, Lucas moves among jangling psychedelia, heartsick pastorals, and radio-ready rock, as if forever searching for a way out of his attic studio or his parents’ spare bedroom. —Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 23 May 2026

That era was defined by wrists piled high with jangling bangles, sculptural — and sometimes spiky — cuffs and stacks of mismatched bracelets worn with an intentionally carefree energy. —Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 22 May 2026

His previous two films, 2020’s Caveat and 2024’s Oddity, are nerve-jangling ghost stories about very bad people trying to get away with very bad things. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French jangler, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch jangelen to grumble

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Phrases Containing jangle

• jangle someone's nerves

Rhymes for jangle

• angle
• bangle
• dangle
• mangle
• strangle
• tangle
• wrangle
• disentangle
• entangle
• quadrangle
• triangle
• untangle

Kids Definition

jangle

verb

jan·​gle

ˈjaŋ-gəl

jangled; jangling

-g(ə-)liŋ

1

: to make or cause to make a harsh ringing sound

2

: to excite to tense irritation

jangled nerves

jangle noun