had been rankling
- past perfect progressive of rankle.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These matters had been rankling until the Bishop sounded shrill and frenzied.
From Time Magazine Archive
This fact, which his wife so flippantly reminded him of, had been rankling all day in his hitherto blameless conscience like a torturing thorn.
From By Veldt and Kopje by Scully, W. C. (William Charles)
But the rain, the giggling boys, the smiling Turk, and the sudden drop from royalty to insignificance had been rankling in Jo's mind.
From The Luck of Thirteen Wanderings and Flight through Montenegro and Serbia by Gordon, Cora
I knew it had been rankling in your mind all along," said the girl "I expected it to coma out sooner or later.
From April Hopes by Howells, William Dean
Mrs. Bowen apparently would not be kept now from saying all that had been rankling in her breast.
From Indian Summer by Howells, William Dean
