as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
wangled a way to get free tickets to the show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wangle
The micro-budget indie (Sundance 2025) about a farm community recovering from wildfires had wangled a permit to shoot during the Actors Strike.
—
Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
For years, Jann Wenner, the editor and publisher of Rolling Stone, wangled special press plates for his car which allowed him to park where most others couldn’t.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
One of Trump’s conditions for supporting Ukraine’s independence and ending the war is to wangle an earth minerals deal out of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
—Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
After wangling her way into the jury-deliberation room by getting Lonnie the sexist podcaster disqualified, her questions about the weapon, motive, and witnesses’ testimony puncture hole after hole in the DA’s case against Delia.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Then, the Yankees wangled and wooed it away from the Spanish and Mexicans.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
To wangle a slice of the $40 billion Saudi Arabia plans to invest in Africa.
—Matthew T. Page, TIME, 10 May 2024
The production has managed to wangle an imposing location for the Visitor’s antics to unfold: one of those huge London statement homes made almost entirely of glass, like a sort of gigantic Cubist fishbowl.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024
Through that connection, Marlinspike wangled a meeting with WhatsApp’s cofounder Brian Acton.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 31 July 2016
Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
For years, Jann Wenner, the editor and publisher of Rolling Stone, wangled special press plates for his car which allowed him to park where most others couldn’t.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
One of Trump’s conditions for supporting Ukraine’s independence and ending the war is to wangle an earth minerals deal out of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
—Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
After wangling her way into the jury-deliberation room by getting Lonnie the sexist podcaster disqualified, her questions about the weapon, motive, and witnesses’ testimony puncture hole after hole in the DA’s case against Delia.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Then, the Yankees wangled and wooed it away from the Spanish and Mexicans.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
To wangle a slice of the $40 billion Saudi Arabia plans to invest in Africa.
—Matthew T. Page, TIME, 10 May 2024
The production has managed to wangle an imposing location for the Visitor’s antics to unfold: one of those huge London statement homes made almost entirely of glass, like a sort of gigantic Cubist fishbowl.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024
Through that connection, Marlinspike wangled a meeting with WhatsApp’s cofounder Brian Acton.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 31 July 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wangle
Verb
-
While the company can still try to sell the parking meters to someone else, Johnson said the City Council would have to approve any such deal, giving the city leverage to try to negotiate better terms from any potential buyer.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Taylor was not willing to negotiate access to her autonomy and moved forward with the laborious act of rerecording old albums to regain control of them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Two years later, his son having attained A levels in English, maths and sciences, Ramírez’s father flew to Europe to arrange for his further education.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Her first such patient was unable to arrange an in-person office visit.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Harden understands the rules well as anyone to draw fouls (critics might argue manipulate the officials) to get to the line.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Other charges accuse Yoon of manipulating the investigation into a marine’s drowning in 2023 and receiving free opinion surveys from an election broker in return for a political favor.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wangle. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
