1
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
that kind of rude treatment from a young person makes me rankle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to infuriate
to make angry
it rankles me when some schools can't even afford paper and pencils for the students
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rankle
Everton are much changed and way more financially stable now under The Friedkin Group, which replaced Moshiri at the helm in December 2024, but the news will still rankle.
—
Matt Slater, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Armenia also played host to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a move that further rankled the Kremlin, especially because Pashinyan and Zelensky held talks in English, rather than in Russian, the old Soviet lingua franca.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
The Herald has learned Council President Liz Breadon visited councilors individually during the recess to ask them to push off the budget vote, rankling Weber, who had recommended a favorable vote take place at the day’s session.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
How much will the war with Iran rankle the housing market?
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Matt Slater, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Armenia also played host to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a move that further rankled the Kremlin, especially because Pashinyan and Zelensky held talks in English, rather than in Russian, the old Soviet lingua franca.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
The Herald has learned Council President Liz Breadon visited councilors individually during the recess to ask them to push off the budget vote, rankling Weber, who had recommended a favorable vote take place at the day’s session.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
How much will the war with Iran rankle the housing market?
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankle
Verb
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Primitive manmade paths have been carved among the hills, which are dotted with steaming vents, small rivers, and glacial ice.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
When in doubt, stick to food that is cooked and served steaming hot.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Verb
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In Chicago, these questions are interesting and infuriating because the Bulls have no say in the outcome.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
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The Iranians moved their training base from Arizona to Mexico, and the team has been required to leave Los Angeles right after both matches, infuriating Ghalenoei.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
Verb
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As the party raged on LACMA’s campus, hundreds of parade participants hurriedly prepared for their debuts in the corners of nearby streets and parking lots.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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Debate is raging all over the world about the place AI should have in schools, with some studies on US children suggesting that introducing generative AI into education can erode children's ability to develop cognitive and social skills.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
20 June 2026
Verb
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But Schnur said the governor likely also has concerns about angering one of his biggest backers.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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Meanwhile, Daemon, angered that his wife/niece is mad at him for orchestrating the brutal murder of a child, goes to the cursed castle of Harrenhal to claim it for their side — or perhaps to claim it for himself.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Most of the smoke is coming from the Iron Fire in Utah, which has burned more than 21,000 acres.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
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The world has known that adding heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests will warm the globe, said Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center on Cape Cod, who was not involved in the research.—
Alexa St. John,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
Verb
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With those remarks, Cucurella is bound to enrage Culers.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Before the agreement was announced, Israeli forces struck in Beirut, enraging Trump, who has publicly expressed his fury with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Also contaminated are fish, staples of Midwestern fish fries and fish boils, and an important part of the diet of Indigenous tribes, certain immigrant populations and communities of color.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
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Continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate, without stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes more or until caramel is a rich brown color but not burnt.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Damian used to get annoyed with his father's motivational chats about responsibility.—
Claudia Boyd-Barrett,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Three hours before the parade is set to begin, paradegoers are already annoyed at the disorganization and slow-moving lines.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rankle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankle. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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