rancor
Americannoun
Synonym Usage
See malevolence.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rancor
1175–1225; Middle English rancour, from Middle French, from Late Latin rancōr- (stem of rancor ) “rancidity,” equivalent to Latin ranc(ēre) ( see rancid) + -ōr- -or 1
Explanation
The word rancor is best when you're not just talking about anger, you're talking about a deep, twisted bitter type of anger in your heart. The open rancor in political discussion prevents cooperation between political parties. The most helpful way to remember rancor with all its dark, miserable bitterness is to think of how rancor rhymes with canker, as in canker sore, the horrible painful burning on your lip. Or, you might want to remind yourself that rancor has its roots in the word rancid meaning "rotten." Rancor refers particularly to the sort of ill-will associated with resentment, envy, slow-brewing anger, and a very personal sort of hatred.
Vocabulary lists containing rancor
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Romeo and Juliet
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Grade 11, List 1
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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.
Some former administration officials said the debate over G42 fueled more rancor among Biden policymakers than almost any other issue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
You have two choices after that: Mention it in a review — factually and without rancor — or contact the Airbnb Resolution Center.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 2026
The case against her was threadbare, a product of postwar rancor, false testimony and manipulative journalists who had preyed on her naivete.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025
The kind of rancor and bitterness that ushered forth World War II poisons us too.
From Salon ● May 13, 2024
The wonder was the depth of the girl’s rancor, her persistence with a story that saw him all the way to Wandsworth Prison.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
