rankle

[rang-kuhl]

verb (used without object), ran·kled, ran·kling.

(of unpleasant feelings, experiences, etc.) to continue to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment within the mind; fester; be painful.

verb (used with object), ran·kled, ran·kling.

to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment in: His colleague's harsh criticism rankled him for days.

Origin of rankle

1250–1300; Middle English ranclen < Middle French rancler, Old French raoncler, variant of draoncler to fester, derivative of draoncle a sore < Late Latin dracunculus small serpent, diminutive of Latin dracō serpent; see dragon, carbuncle

Related formsran·kling·ly, adverbun·ran·kled, adjective

Synonyms

1, 2. irritate, gall, chafe.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for rankled

Contemporary Examples

The cynics among us will be rankled at the description of a book as “inspiring,” but Massie is the genuine article.
This Week’s Hot Reads: May 23, 2012
Nicholas Mancusi, Malcolm Jones, Lucas Wittmann
May 23, 2012
If it rankled, it was because it forced the audience to take a long look at their own imperfections, their own broken families.
The Big Bang of Reality TV
Jace Lacob
April 17, 2011
Her dogged willingness to keep the case in the spotlight has rankled authorities—which has only strengthened her resolve.
A Mommy Blogger Seeks Justice for Her Son
K. Emily Bond
March 28, 2011
The promise so rankled the Taliban they issued a statement insisting that Pakistan should reject all foreign aid.
Terrorists Exploit a Disaster
Ria Misra
August 13, 2010
The family, and Jeb Bush in particular, manages to reconcile many of the tensions and contradictions that have rankled the party.
Bush-Cheney 2012?
Reihan Salam
May 19, 2009

Historical Examples

The thing that rankled and filled him with a sense of failure was Max Wilson's attitude.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
After that more than ever rankled the memory of that first morning.
The Incomplete Amorist
E. Nesbit
That same book,—how it rankled, like a barbed arrow, in his side!
Tony Butler
Charles James Lever
The thought that a man whom he had befriended was opposing him rankled deeply.
Rodney, the Ranger
John V. Lane
She could not apologise to him after hearing the accusation which rankled in his bosom.
Kept in the Dark
Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for rankled

rankle

verb

(intr) to cause severe and continuous irritation, anger, or bitterness; festerhis failure to win still rankles

Word Origin

C14 ranclen, from Old French draoncler to fester, from draoncle ulcer, from Latin dracunculus small serpent, from dracō serpent; see dragon

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rankled

rankle

v.

c.1300, "to fester," from Old French rancler, earlier raoncler, draoncler "to suppurate, run," from draoncle "abscess, festering sore," from Medieval Latin dracunculus, literally "little dragon," diminutive of Latin draco "serpent, dragon" (see dragon). The notion is of an ulcer caused by a snake's bite. Meaning "cause to fester" is from c.1400. Related: Rankled; rankling.

rankle

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Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for rankled

Contemporary Examples

The cynics among us will be rankled at the description of a book as “inspiring,” but Massie is the genuine article.

If it rankled, it was because it forced the audience to take a long look at their own imperfections, their own broken families.

Her dogged willingness to keep the case in the spotlight has rankled authorities—which has only strengthened her resolve.

The promise so rankled the Taliban they issued a statement insisting that Pakistan should reject all foreign aid.

The family, and Jeb Bush in particular, manages to reconcile many of the tensions and contradictions that have rankled the party.

Historical Examples

The thing that rankled and filled him with a sense of failure was Max Wilson's attitude.

After that more than ever rankled the memory of that first morning.

That same book,—how it rankled, like a barbed arrow, in his side!

The thought that a man whom he had befriended was opposing him rankled deeply.

She could not apologise to him after hearing the accusation which rankled in his bosom.

rankle

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for rankled

rankle

v.

Origin of rankle