Rankle
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈɹæŋ.kəl/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Rankle is a verb meaning (transitive or intransitive) To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony.
Meaning
(transitive or intransitive) To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony.
More Meanings
- (intransitive) To fester.
- (rare) A festering, embittering object or condition, either mental, or a physical sore or ulcer.
Example Sentences
a splinter rankles in the flesh
My colleague's gratuitous criticism still rankles with me.
What most rankles me about the term is how casually it is being applied to schools—temples of learning—and especially to children.
But yet the cause and root of all his ill, Inward corruption and infected sin, Not purg'd nor heald, behind remained still, And festring sore did rankle yet within […]
Word Forms
- rankles
- rankling
- rankled
Synonyms for rankle
Depending on context, synonyms include embitter, irritate, fret, grate.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include fret, grate, fester, gall, acerbate, embitter.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.