wrestle

Where “wrestle” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To take part in (a wrestling bout or match).
2. 2
   Sometimes followed by down: to contend with or move (someone) into or out of a position by grappling; also, to overcome (someone) by grappling.
3. 3
   To move or manipulate (something) using physical effort, usually with some difficulty or opposition.
4. 4
   To engage in (a contest or struggle).
5. 5
   To throw down (a calf or other livestock animal) for branding.
6. 6
   To grapple or otherwise contend with an opponent in order to throw or force them to the ground, chiefly as a sport or in unarmed combat.
7. 7
   Followed by with: to move or manipulate something using physical effort, usually with some difficulty or opposition.
8. 8
   To make one's way or move with some difficulty or effort.
9. 9
   Followed by against or with: to contend, to struggle; to exert effort, to strive.
10. 10
    To contend verbally; to argue, to debate, to dispute.
11. 11
    To twist or wriggle; to writhe.
12. 12
    Followed by with: to concern or occupy oneself closely, or deal with, a task, etc.

Etymology

The verb is derived from Middle English wrestlen, wrastlen (“to engage in grappling combat or sport, struggle, wrestle; to twist and turn, squirm, wriggle, writhe; (figurative) to contend, grapple with, struggle”), from Old English wrǣstlian (“to wrestle”), a frequentative form of wrǣstan (“to twist, wrest”), from Proto-Germanic *wraistijaną (“to turn; to twist, wrest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”). By surface analysis, wrest + -le (frequentative suffix). Probably related to wraxle (UK, dialectal, archaic). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * Middle Dutch worstelen, wrastelen (“to wrestle”) (modern Dutch worstelen) * Middle Low German wrostelen (“to wrestle”) (German Low German frösseln, wrösseln) * Saterland Frisian wrosselje (“to contend, wrestle”) * West Frisian wrakselje (“to wrestle”)

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: rwestle,werstle,wreslte,wresstle,wrestel,wrestlle,wresttle,wretsle,wrrestle,wrsetle,wwrestle

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of wrestle - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

Frequently Asked Questions