rankle
verb (used without object)
(of unpleasant feelings, experiences, etc.) to continue to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment within the mind; fester; be painful.
is rankling
-
present progressiveof rankle (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
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.
A family battle over a billionaire’s fortune, from boats and a jet to Dallas Cowboys tickets, is rankling the board of a small regional bank in Texas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
That is rankling the banking industry, which sees the new players as potential rivals that aren’t subject to the same level of regulatory oversight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026
His continued insistence on changes despite months of negotiation is rankling colleagues.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 3, 2021
What is rankling about the league, she said afterward, is its insistence that it is driven by factors beyond the bottom line.
From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2016
I want to get away from this continual insult to myself which is rankling within me.
From The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore
