rancorous

adjective

ran·​cor·​ous ˈraŋ-k(ə-)rəs How to pronounce rancorous (audio)
: marked by rancor : deeply malevolent
rancorous envy
rancorously adverb

Examples of rancorous in a Sentence

a rancorous autobiography in which the author heaps blame on just about everyone who had the misfortune of knowing him
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many team officials have voiced worry that the next labor stoppage could take longer and become more rancorous. Andy McCullough, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 The conversations were spirited and robust but hardly rancorous. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 But the film could have used more of the rancorous triangle formed by Enrichetta, her mother and Duse’s monastically devoted and territorial Austrian assistant, Desiree (Fanni Wrochna). David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025 McNamara and Roach have done away with that framing device, replacing DeVito’s divorce attorney with a rancorous couples therapy session. Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rancorous

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1517, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rancorous was circa 1517

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Cite this Entry

“Rancorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rancorous. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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