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

The late Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada rankled some fellow Democrats in 2009 when he said in an interview: “I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him.”

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, some of his actions rankled the deputies’ union so much that it poured money into the 2018 campaign to unseat him.

From Los Angeles Times

For a president championed as Mexico’s most environmentally conscious leader – before entering politics, Sheinbaum was an accomplished environmental engineer – that must rankle.

From BBC

The decision to not air the documentary until December has rankled Morris, who had already made the rounds on the network to promote his work.

From Salon

Winter has been unafraid to rankle city and county officials as she has criticized the status quo.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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