as in acrimonious
having or showing deep-seated resentment
a rancorous autobiography in which the author heaps blame on just about everyone who had the misfortune of knowing him
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Recent Examples of rancorous
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rancorous
Adjective
-
His acrimonious exit from Chelsea still lingers, and facing his former club with a place in the last 16 at stake adds extra motivation.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Axios reported last month that Noem and Homan have a tense and acrimonious working relationship.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Local sheriffs have stepped up their efforts to warn residents of wolf sightings, posting alerts on social media that have garnered hundreds of comments from both concerned residents and environmentalists angry that the animals are the focus of so much fear and anger.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
When federal agents can show up at your store, detain your employees, raid your parking lot and audit your hiring records, the calculation about whether to criticize federal policy looks very different than when the worst-case scenario is an angry tweet from a politician.—
Alessandro Piazza,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Jimmy Butler was lost for the season last week with a torn ACL, and trade candidate Jonathan Kuminga has been unable to play while battling a sore knee.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Sacramento, which by all rights should be rebuilding, put themselves on course to be over the luxury tax next season by adding a 28-year old with sore knees while giving up a 26-year-old whose next contract will likely be for half as much.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is a fairly faithful rendition of the original, with bushy broccoli rabe as the bitter green of choice.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
After their murders, their families sat in the bitter cold and grieved, waiting for the prime minister, Imran Khan, to come and mourn with them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That didn’t happen, not least because of the cynical fecklessness of regional powers.—
Juan Pablo Spinetto,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But cynical calculation gives way to transformative sense of purpose and perhaps redemption.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But sitting tight at one’s job has, for many, resulted in feeling detached, trapped, and resentful; over time, staying in a role you’re mentally checked out of can even fuel burnout.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
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As the franchise struggled to recapture the magic established under Jerry Buss, Jeanie had grown distant and resentful, the report said, that James didn’t take accountability for involvement with the decision to acquire Russell Westbrook in 2021.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dejected and embittered, Carol returns to her unlikely ally Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga) to begrudgingly save the world.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Her daughter Celia has become an embittered alcoholic.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Usually, the scent of their acrid urine will give them away sooner or later.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
1 Jan. 2026
-
The video snippet left an acrid taste in some people’s mouths.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rancorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rancorous. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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