Definition

1. Noun:

   • A physical contest or fight involving grappling and close bodily contact: "wrestle" refers to the act or instance of engaging in a structured or informal wrestling match, a sport or struggle where opponents try to overpower each other.
   • A difficult struggle or effort: Figuratively, it can describe any intense, prolonged effort to deal with a challenging problem or situation.

2. Verb:

   • To engage in the sport or activity of wrestling: To grapple physically with an opponent, trying to force them to the ground or into a position of submission.
   • To struggle physically with something or someone: To move with forceful, twisting motions, especially when trying to free oneself or gain control.
   • To struggle mentally or emotionally with a difficult issue: To engage in deep, effortful thought, consideration, or internal conflict about a problem or decision.
   • To strive to overcome or master something: To combat or contend persistently against an opposing force, tendency, or feeling.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The two brothers had a friendly wrestle on the lawn.
  • Writing the final chapter was a real wrestle with my ideas.

• Verb (Physical):

  • The athletes wrestle for three rounds.
  • She had to wrestle the heavy box up the stairs.

• Verb (Mental/Figurative):

  • I wrestled with the math problem for hours before finding the solution.
  • He wrestled with his conscience over whether to tell the truth.

Advanced Usage

• "to wrestle with": to struggle physically or mentally against something.

  • She continues to wrestle with the complexities of the new software.
  • The fisherman wrestled with the giant marlin for over an hour.

• "to wrestle down": to subdue or bring under control through a struggle.

  • The security guard managed to wrestle down the intruder.

Variants and Related Words

• Wrestler (n): a person who takes part in the sport of wrestling.

  • The wrestler trained rigorously for the championship.

• Wrestling (n): the sport or activity of grappling and trying to throw or pin an opponent.

  • Greco-Roman wrestling is an Olympic sport.

Synonyms

• Grapple: to engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons.
• Struggle: to make a forceful effort to get free or to achieve something.
• Contend: to struggle to surmount a difficulty or rival.
• Writhe: to make twisting, squirming movements (especially in pain or discomfort).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Wrestle away: to obtain something by struggling or with great effort.

  • He wrestled the gun away from the attacker.

• Wrestle into: to force something into a place or position with difficulty.

  • We wrestled the old sofa into the moving truck.

Related Idioms

• Wrestle with an angel: to engage in a profound moral or spiritual struggle (from the biblical story of Jacob).

  • He felt like he was wrestling with an angel, trying to decide the right path.

• Wrestle a bear: (informal) to take on an extremely difficult or daunting task.

  • Trying to fix that old engine is like wrestling a bear.

Noun

1. the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat
   • they had a fierce wrestle
   • we watched his grappling and wrestling with the bully

Verb

1. engage in a wrestling match
   • The children wrestled in the garden
2. to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
   • The prisoner writhed in discomfort
   • The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace
3. engage in deep thought, consideration, or debate
   • I wrestled with this decision for years
4. combat to overcome an opposing tendency or force
   • He wrestled all his life with his feeling of inferiority