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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Example Sentences
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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
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Axios reported last month that Noem and Homan have a tense and acrimonious working relationship.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Marner’s acrimonious departure hung over the Leafs toward the end of last season.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Grifters can be analyzed by affect (jolly, cold, angry, greedy, sad) and/or by gender.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Agents made several arrests in supermarket parking lots and at tamale stands while goading angry residents who confronted them and threatening to unleash tear gas.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And the Gunners are feeling rather sore at the moment.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Steph Curry labored through Sunday’s 111-85 victory with a sore knee, and he was ruled out for Monday’s game at Target Center.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 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
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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
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Overall, the county’s business community is feeling cynical about the state of the economy, with two-thirds of merchants reporting a negative future outlook, the study’s authors said.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
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The interior dining room, divided into two levels and connected by a slowly sloping ramp, could at first cynical glance register as backdrop.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Schouler, meanwhile, becomes increasingly resentful, less about losing Trina than about missing out on her winnings.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Her daughter Celia has become an embittered alcoholic.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
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The latest movie on my yuletide film agenda, A Merry Little Ex-Mas, stars Alicia Silverstone as an embittered ex who—I’m guessing—gets some semblance of her groove back.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
14 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Usually, the scent of their acrid urine will give them away sooner or later.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
1 Jan. 2026
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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 31 Jan. 2026.
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