Wangle and wrangle are two distinct words that describe different actions, one related to cunning and the other to argument. Understanding their meanings can help prevent confusion in conversations and writing.
Wangle
Definition:
Wangle means to gain something by trickery or contrivance.
Examples of use:
He wangled a job for which he had no qualifications.
She managed to wangle an invitation to the exclusive event.
They wangled their way into the concert by using fake tickets.
Wrangle
Definition 1:
Wrangle means to argue or debate something angrily.
Examples of use:
The two coaches wrangled over the umpire’s call.
The neighbors often wrangle about property boundaries.
They had a heated wrangle over the best strategy for the project.
Definition 2:
Wrangle can also refer to herding or tending saddle horses.
Examples of use:
Paul has been wrangling horses in Virginia for many years now.
The cowboy spent his days wrangling cattle on the open range.
In summary, to wangle is to achieve something through clever or deceitful means, while to wrangle is to engage in a heated argument or to herd animals. Keeping these definitions in mind will help you use the words correctly in different contexts.
