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
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
The last couple years have been marked by intense and often rancorous debates around Judaism, within both the community writ large and nuclear units like the Schwoopers.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Even as the pair’s relationship grew rancorous, the company kept growing, reaching revenue of just over $700 million in 2018.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
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
The last couple years have been marked by intense and often rancorous debates around Judaism, within both the community writ large and nuclear units like the Schwoopers.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Even as the pair’s relationship grew rancorous, the company kept growing, reaching revenue of just over $700 million in 2018.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rancorous
Adjective
-
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in an acrimonious parting of the ways following a referendum in which 99 percent of South Sudanese backed independence.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The most recent season saw Maggie helping her daughter Sarah pick up the pieces of her life after an acrimonious divorce from Xander.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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So what actually makes Powell angry?—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As someone who frequently wakes up stiff and sore, contributor Sydney Gore has tried a lot of pillows.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Two sore spots in Apple’s lates financials were in iPad sales and its wearables division, consisting of devices such as AirPods and the Apple Watch.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That clash of emotions — celebration of a dream season and commiseration over its bitter conclusion — sat on the central clubhouse table.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
To come to its conclusion, the team had 48 participants sample an array of tomato juices with different flavor profiles, including sweet, salty, and bitter options.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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My appetite for more Lee is low, but Harjo’s Tulsa — cynical and lively at the same time — simmers with more to say.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Certainly, the cynical have questioned if one organization is cleaning up a mess beget by another in the name of democratizing fashion, including through the proliferation of fossil-fuel materials.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The story revolves around a famous film director and his pianist wife, who are held hostage by a resentful background actor.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
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Tessa is more resentful, blaming Nathan’s leadership to the bitter end.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Short, balding and deeply insecure, the embittered Hart (Ethan Hawke) offers some disingenuous congratulations, but can’t mask his contempt for Rodgers’ new writing partner and their swoony, uncynical show.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
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Though Dyer’s Colette is the closest thing the DMV ensemble has to a lead, its brightest star is Gregg, a fellow examiner played by Tim Meadows with the embittered misery of someone who understands his existence as a cosmic joke.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Day turned to night as thick, acrid clouds blackened the sky.—
Robert Wyss,
The Conversation,
21 Oct. 2025
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The scent of the earth was pungent and overpowered the acrid smell of the gunpowder, which dissipated into the air.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rancorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rancorous. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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