rankle
[ rang-kuhl ]
/ ˈræŋ kəl /
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.
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RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
rankine cycle, rankine scale, ranking, ranking member, rankism, rankle, rankshift, ransack, ransom, ransome, ransomware
Origin of rankle
Related forms
ran·kling·ly, adverbun·ran·kled, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for rankling
British Dictionary definitions for rankling
rankle
/ (ˈræŋkəl) /
verb
(intr) to cause severe and continuous irritation, anger, or bitterness; festerhis failure to win still rankles
Word Origin for rankle
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
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