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.
Colombia’s Pacific region, especially the portion hit by Monday’s quake, is among the nation’s poorest and partially nestled in dense jungle, The Guardian reported. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Agent Orange is a powerful chemical that kills weeds and acts as a defoliant, which the military used during the war in Vietnam to clear dense jungle and destroy food crops. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 The Pacific, particularly the Choco region, is one of Colombia's poorest, nestled in dense jungle. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 Inspired by the Amazon rainforest at dawn, this gender-neutral parfum layers white jungle florals, Brazilian orange oil, pink pepper, and grapefruit zest over grounding notes of bourbon, vetiver, musk, and patchouli. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Aug. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Jungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jungle. Accessed 14 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on jungle

Nglish: Translation of jungle for Spanish Speakers

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