jungle

noun

jun·​gle ˈjəŋ-gəl How to pronounce jungle (audio)
Synonyms of junglenext
often attributive
1
a
: an impenetrable thicket or tangled mass of tropical vegetation
b
: a tract overgrown with thickets or masses of vegetation
2
a(1)
: a confused or disordered mass of objects : jumble
(2)
: something that baffles or frustrates by its tangled or complex character : maze
… the jungle of housing laws …—Bernard Taper
b
: a place of ruthless struggle for survival
… the city is a jungle where no one is safe after dark.—Stuart Chase
3
: electronic dance music that combines elements of techno, reggae, and hip-hop and is marked especially by an extremely fast beat
4
: a hobo camp
junglelike
ˈjəŋ-gə(l)-ˌlīk How to pronounce jungle (audio)
adjective
jungly
ˈjəŋ-g(ə-)lē How to pronounce jungle (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of jungle

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Examples of jungle in a Sentence

life in the corporate jungle It's hard to succeed in the business world. It's a jungle out there. a jungle of environmental laws
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.
Campbell ended up hitting the block of all blocks off the tee, with his ball entering what is a legitimate jungle guarding the right side of the fairway. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 My field research has taken me from the coast of Maine to the Amazon jungle, but some factors remain constant in an unforgettable tale. — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 In the Buendías’ legacy of love and betrayal, loyalty and idealism, there was domestic and political violence, but there was also ice in the middle of the jungle and a sickness that put the whole town to sleep and girls that became witches. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 But the jungle is the least of the dangers awaiting her, and dark secrets about her own family await. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jungle

Word History

Etymology

Hindi jaṅgal & Urdu jangal forest, from Sanskrit jaṅgala desert region

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of jungle was in 1776

Phrases Containing jungle

Rhymes for jungle

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Browse Nearby Words

Jungian
jungle
jungle ballot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jungle. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

jungle

noun
jun·​gle ˈjəŋ-gəl How to pronounce jungle (audio)
1
: a thick tangled mass of tropical vegetation
2
: an area overgrown with jungle or other vegetation
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