jangle

1 of 2

verb

jan·​gle ˈjaŋ-gəl How to pronounce jangle (audio)
jangled; jangling ˈjaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce jangle (audio)

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 noun

jangle

2 of 2

noun

1
: a discordant often ringing sound
the jangle of spurs
2
: noisy quarreling
3
: idle talk

Examples of jangle in a Sentence

Verb Coins jangled out of the machine. He jangled his keys loudly outside the door. Noun the hall was abuzz with the usual preconvention jangle
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Plucked from her Alaskan habitat by the unscrupulous jocks of the McCain campaign, small-town Sarah struggles in the jangling world of prime time. James Parker, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024 Cabello would have fit right in on the Rabanne spring 2025 runway, where dresses jingled and jangled down the catwalk, including one that scattered flakes of gold leaf as the model moved. Violet Goldstone, WWD, 26 Sep. 2024
Noun
These are recipes where modernity jangles with the delicious rhythms of the past. Scott Hocker, theweek, 27 Sep. 2024 The Lemonheads are an apt comparison—there’s a lot of that grungy 90’s jangle in the Tossing Seed sound. Keegan Bradford, SPIN, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for jangle 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of jangle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near jangle

Cite this Entry

“Jangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jangle. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on jangle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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