rankle

[ rang-kuhl ]

verb (used without object)

, ran·kled, ran·kling.

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

   Synonyms: chafe, gall, irritate

verb (used with object)

, ran·kled, ran·kling.

1. to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment in:

   His colleague's harsh criticism rankled him for days.

   Synonyms: chafe, gall, irritate

rankle

/ ˈræŋkəl /

verb

1. intr to cause severe and continuous irritation, anger, or bitterness; fester

   his failure to win still rankles

Other Words From

• rankling·ly adverb
• un·rankled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rankle¹

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; dragon, carbuncle

Word History and Origins

Origin of rankle¹

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

Example Sentences

That fact rankles Campagnoni, whose rent is almost 50% higher in his new room in a downtown apartment building.

From ProPublica

Their home is a jaw-dropping luxury loft that she pays for, and Abdul-Mateen conveys, subtly, how this rankles Anthony’s masculine pride.

From Time

She was also tasked with taking over Nichols’s Finals hosting duties in the bubble, which appeared to rankle Nichols.

From Washington Post

The fact that his success grows with no apparent effort on his part rankles others.

From Washington Post

Andrew Johnson was ill-suited for the moment, setting off a Reconstruction process that would rankle many Northern veterans who wondered what they had fought for.

From Washington Post

“Operation Fast and Furious” continues to rankle some Republicans.

From The Daily Beast

Newcomers may rankle you at first, but these may be false starts to lifelong bonds.

From The Daily Beast

As prickly as these issues are, others rankle at least as much.

From The Daily Beast

Sibley heard a low, poisonous laugh of triumph rankle through the hotel office.

From Project Gutenberg

She had a high temper herself; but anger did not rankle in her heart for days and days, as it did in Johnny's.

From Project Gutenberg

Majuba Hill was made to rankle in the memory of the English people by a persistent press campaign.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, it can do no harm to say that kind words never rankle, while bitter words do.

From Project Gutenberg

Deeply in their bosoms rankle wrongs and insults we have given, Blood alone can wash it, Kripa, such the cruel will of Heaven!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anger
• bother
• embitter
• exasperate
• gall
• harass
• hurt
• inflame
• irk
• rile
• torment
• vex