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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of rancorous
For nearly two decades, Twitter had been considered the internet’s town square, chaotic and often rancorous but informative and diversely discursive.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
The council vote has long been seen as a formality, with aldermen overwhelmingly approving recent mayors’ picks for open council seats, though Johnson has had a particularly rancorous relationship with the body.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
But Sox fans weren’t worried, thanks to a recent report that Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf might sell the team to a billionaire who would then rescue the franchise from his rancorous reign.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
The rancorous, reptilian, essentially unknowable right—rising from the wastes like Trump, Putin, or Sauron—receives the Promethean gift of historical agency.
—Matthew Karp, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
The council vote has long been seen as a formality, with aldermen overwhelmingly approving recent mayors’ picks for open council seats, though Johnson has had a particularly rancorous relationship with the body.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
But Sox fans weren’t worried, thanks to a recent report that Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf might sell the team to a billionaire who would then rescue the franchise from his rancorous reign.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
The rancorous, reptilian, essentially unknowable right—rising from the wastes like Trump, Putin, or Sauron—receives the Promethean gift of historical agency.
—Matthew Karp, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rancorous
Adjective
-
There was the acrimonious split between Sir Ben Ainslie and Ratcliffe over the British team in the America’s Cup, while INEOS is in a legal dispute with New Zealand Rugby over the failure to pay the latest instalment of its £3.7m-a-year sponsorship deal.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
-
Despite a somewhat acrimonious parting with Judas Priest, Binks joined his former mates at the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and played three songs with the band.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
If an extended trade war with China leads to higher prices and shortages of key goods for Americans, an angry public could throw out some Republicans, handing control of the House and even possibly the Senate to Democrats.—
Ann Scott Tyson,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 May 2025
-
That's the tipping point, and Austin breaks up the bromance, leaving Craig lost and angry and eager to prove himself as a cool dude worth hanging out with.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Asking for fairness One lingering sore spot around remote work is the disparity between different state workers.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2025
-
While the senior agents are reluctant to grant Nina’s request, the Saxton case has become a sore spot for the bureau.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
The harmony of flavors—including sweet tomatoes and cider, bitter radishes, spicy greens, umami Parmesan, and salty finishing flakes—kept me going back for bite after bite.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
-
So now he is compelled to marry Leah as well, forcing the sisters into a bitter rivalry for Jacob’s love.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
These final years are sometimes treated as a lost period, because Twain’s writing grew bitter and cynical and unpalatable to those more interested in pleasing escapades.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
-
What makes Kennedy’s order especially cynical is that designing and implementing a clinical trial is an extraordinarily complex, costly and time-consuming process.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sometimes there's also a lack of support—if partners or family members don’t share the mental load, new moms can feel isolated, unappreciated, or resentful, worsening feelings of depression.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
1 May 2025
-
Lesser powers that find themselves under the dominion of a great power against their wishes can be resentful and rebellious.—
Margaret MacMillan,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That day, the air in midtown Manhattan was choked with acrid wildfire smoke from Canada, and the sky was a macabre shade of orange.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Then, in June 2023, came the wildfire smoke from eastern Canada that filled our street with an acrid smell and our lungs with dangerous particulate matter.—
Mike Tidwell,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rancorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rancorous. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share