ˈɡɹæp(ə)lɪŋ skwɜːm skwɝm twɪst wɜːm wɝm ˈɹɛ.səl ˈɹɛ.səl ˈɹɛs.l̩.ɪŋ ˈɹɪɡəl ɹaɪð the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat they had a fierce wrestle we watched his grappling and wrestling with the bully engage in deep thought, consideration, or debate I wrestled with this decision for years combat to overcome an opposing tendency or force He wrestled all his life with his feeling of inferiority engage in a wrestling match The children wrestled in the garden 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