rankle

American  

[rang-kuhl] / ˈræŋ kəl /

verb (used without object)

rankled, rankling

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

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verb (used with object)

rankled, rankling

1. to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment in.

   His colleague's harsh criticism rankled him for days.

   Synonyms:

   chafe, gall, irritate

rankle British  

/ ˈræŋkəl /

verb

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

   his failure to win still rankles

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Other Word Forms

• ranklingly adverb
• unrankled adjective

Etymology

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; dragon, carbuncle

Example Sentences

He’s also felt the pain of insurance-price hikes that have rankled many Americans.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even the name suggested grandeur and royal approval, and his living in style there with Sarah Ferguson seemed to represent a sense of entitlement that rankled with the public.

From BBC

But Hanoi's ballooning surplus with the bloc has rankled European leaders who have called for the removal of non-tariff barriers on EU products such as automobiles.

From Barron's

Bovino’s approach, however, rankled many career officials at DHS and especially inside ICE, the agency primarily responsible for arresting and deporting immigrants in the country illegally, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

The defeat and the nature of it will rankle, especially because she was considered a serious challenger for the title.

From Barron's

Related Words

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