wrestling

verb

Definition of wrestlingnext
present participle of wrestle
as in fighting
to seize and attempt to unbalance one another for the purpose of achieving physical mastery the sisters wrestled on the floor over the last cookie

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wrestling The bystander followed the 16-year-old gunman and shot him as another teacher was wrestling with him over the weapon, according to police. — Tom Winter, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026 Inside the school Giamanco saw a woman wrestling with the boy for control of the shotgun. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 Unlike Netflix, Disney is wrestling with the ongoing deterioration of linear TV. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 For four hours, this extraordinary group, many of whom had not seen each other in 50 years, reminisced, critiqued, argued, laughed and drank while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 It’s even suggested that Elia’s injuries might have resulted from a minor accident at home, or even wrestling in gym class. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026 For Che, wrestling with all sides of seemingly intractable issues—like figuring out how to solve the gun violence epidemic in our country—is what generates the comedy. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 What transpired in Week 5 has left them wrestling with questions on both offense and defense. — Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 The town has spent years wrestling with how to reduce aircraft noise, including past efforts to impose curfews and restrictions becoming tied up in court. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrestling
  1. fighting
  2. grappling
  3. brawling
  4. tussling
Verb
  • The discovery raises the possibility of a grim outcome in the search for the four men, which has led to El Salvador deploying 450 special forces soldiers to Haiti as of Friday to aid the gang-fighting force in the search.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The whole idea is for Israel to keep fighting, because endless wars serve Netanyahu to maintain… a constant state of emergency.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of fighting
Verb
  • Brittin is grappling with a financial crisis that is precipitating some of the most painful cuts in the BBC’s history.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Widespread summer heatwaves across Europe in 2026 also dampened chocolate consumption, leaving the broader industry grappling with sluggish volume growth.
    — , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of grappling
Verb
  • Grammy award-winning singer Chris Brown to be sentenced over brawling at a London nightclub three years ago.
    — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Combs was previously placed in solitary confinement after brawling with another inmate back in July.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of brawling
Verb
  • Michigan is looking for a more complete performance after tussling with UTEP through the first half last week.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The video depicts a group of students engaged in horseplay, progressing to two 15-year-olds tussling and laughing, according to the suit.
    — Eric Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of tussling

Browse Nearby Words

wrestle (with)
wrestling
wrestling (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Wrestling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrestling. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wrestling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wrestling

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