wrestle

verb wres·tle \ ˈre-səl , ˈra- \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of wrestle

wrestled; wrestling play \ˈres-liŋ, ˈras-; ˈre-sᵊl-iŋ, ˈra-\

intransitive verb

1 : to contend by grappling with and striving to trip or throw an opponent down or off balance

2 : to combat an opposing tendency or force

wrestling with his conscience

3 : to engage in deep thought, consideration, or debate

4 : to engage in or as if in a violent or determined struggle

wrestling with cumbersome luggage

transitive verb

1 a : to engage in (a match, bout, or fall) in wrestling

b : to wrestle with

wrestle an alligator

2 : to move, maneuver, or force with difficulty

—

wrestler

play \ˈre-slər, ˈra-; ˈre-sᵊl-ər, ˈra-\ noun

See wrestle defined for English-language learners

See wrestle defined for kids

Examples of wrestle in a Sentence

They'll be wrestling each other for the championship.
They'll be wrestling with each other for the championship.

Recent Examples of wrestle from the Web

Dennis Hastert lost the majority and resigned from Congress a year later and is now totally disgraced Hastert's rise from wrestling coach to House speaker was an only-in-America kind of story that turned out to be too good to be true.

— z. byron wolf, CNN, "Paul Ryan is quitting way before other House speakers would have," 11 Apr. 2018
Alan would always rush silently from his desk and come over to Marion and wrestle her to the floor.

— christopher bonanos, Daily Intelligencer, "The Birth of New York Magazine, Told by the People Who Made It," 8 Apr. 2018
Kiddoo finished the state competition in fourth place, taking her to the national girls wrestling competition.

— julie gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Ramona student advances to world wrestling match," 3 Apr. 2018
Archie easily beats Reggie in an arm wrestle for School Council votes, which means the football team must vote for Veronica.

— amy mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Riverdale Season 2 Episode 17: Veronica and Toni Just Staged a Daring Rescue of Cheryl," 29 Mar. 2018
Lake shocked Sterling with a stun gun before the officers wrestled him to the ground, according to federal investigators.

— Fox News, "2 officers in Alton Sterling's fatal shooting won't be charged," 27 Mar. 2018
Lake helped wrestle Sterling to the ground, but Lake didn't fire his gun.

— Bloomberg.com, "No Charges in Alton Sterling's Fatal Shooting," 27 Mar. 2018
At the time, Sterling was selling CDs outside of the store when he was accosted, and later wrestled to the ground, tased, and finally fatally shot by two officers.

— britni danielle, Essence.com, "Louisiana Attorney General Declines To Charge Cops Who Fatally Shot Alton Sterling," 27 Mar. 2018
But these beachside behind-the-scenes photos alone are better than any social media campaign — Hedlund and Hunnam playfully wrestling like two little bear cubs are enough to a fill a theater alone.

— morgan baila, refinery29.com, "Ben Affleck's Tattoo Is Starring In A Movie With Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund & Charlie Hunnam," 19 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wrestle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wrestle

Middle English wrastlen, wrestlen, from Old English wrǣstlian, frequentative of wrǣstan

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

wrestle Synonyms

Synonyms

grapple, scuffle, tussle;

bash, batter, beat, buffet, hit, punch, slug, strike;

box, spar;

brawl, skirmish;

wrestle

noun

Definition of wrestle

: the action or an instance of wrestling : struggle; especially : a wrestling bout

Recent Examples of wrestle from the Web

But in every devastating moment, every existential wrestle, Acevedo sows seeds of beauty and growth.

— katie ward beim-esche, The Christian Science Monitor, "YA novel 'The Poet X' is an elegiac meditation on poesy and religion," 23 Mar. 2018
There are two sessions today, beginning at 11 a.m. with wrestle-back semifinals followed by third-, fifth- and seventh-place medal round matches.

— pat galbincea, cleveland.com, "Penn State-Ohio State, Snyder-Coon cap NCAA Wrestling Championships tonight at The Q (photos)," 17 Mar. 2018
Always losing in the blood round (the round that eliminates a wrestle from podium position).

— adam baum, Cincinnati.com, "Moeller's Jake Thompson brings state wrestling title back home," 10 Mar. 2018
With one more win – either in the semifinals or in the wrestle-backs – Iuliucci will punch his ticket to the state championships next weekend in Atlantic City.

— phil anastasia, Philly.com, "St. Joseph's David Iuliucci continues wrestling resurrection at Region 8," 24 Feb. 2018
In Hammaad Chaudry’s new play, mentored by Tony Kushner, a British-Pakistani couple wrestles with the conflicting pulls of upbringing and inheritance, culture and religion.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "What’s New in NYC Theater," 1 Feb. 2018
Has a brother who is 13 and plays football and wrestles and a sister who is 12 who plays soccer and basketball.

— lori riley, courant.com, "Girls Cross Country Runner Of The Year, Jenna Zydanowicz, Hall," 19 Jan. 2018
In an era when movies struggle with a deficit of intriguing ideas, Downsizing wrestles with a surplus of them.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "'Downsizing': The Incredible Shrinking Matt Damon," 21 Dec. 2017
To this day pianists the world over wrestle with the jarring drama of this technically ferocious keyboard marvel.

— paavali jumppanen, WSJ, "The Maestro’s Bleakest Work," 6 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of wrestle

1593

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

WRESTLE Defined for English Language Learners

wrestle

verb

Definition of wrestle for English Language Learners

: to fight (someone) by holding and pushing instead of by hitting, kicking, or punching
: to fight in the sport of wrestling
: to struggle to move, deal with, or control something