1
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
that kind of rude treatment from a young person makes me rankle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to infuriate
to make angry
it rankles me when some schools can't even afford paper and pencils for the students
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 rankle
Privacy and personal property concerns, rankled egos, etc.
—
Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The implication of the injury saga rankled White, who felt the Bulls medical team provided adequate care during his time in Chicago.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Efforts met with celebration and criticism Despite his success in negotiating releases in the mid-80s, Jackson's unrelenting push at times rankled the Reagan administration, especially as his second, more successful, bid for the White House in 1988 further raised his profile.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
But that decision rankled many.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The implication of the injury saga rankled White, who felt the Bulls medical team provided adequate care during his time in Chicago.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Efforts met with celebration and criticism Despite his success in negotiating releases in the mid-80s, Jackson's unrelenting push at times rankled the Reagan administration, especially as his second, more successful, bid for the White House in 1988 further raised his profile.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
But that decision rankled many.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankle
Verb
-
Is steaming better than boiling eggs for deviled eggs?—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Drain and rinse with cold water until cool to the touch and no longer steaming.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Granular, often infuriating descriptions like that one are ultimately what make Hail Mary sing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Kline was frustrated and even infuriated by the military's past reluctance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On March 15, 1889, seven American, German and British warships sat in a standoff in the harbor of Apia, Samoa, as a civil war raged.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
-
At the time, the pandemic was still raging and a mental health crisis — nationally and locally — was at a flashpoint.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of Best’s nieces, Tatiana Barrett, told The Associated Press that revelations from the report have angered and saddened family and friends.—
Dave Collins,
Hartford Courant,
12 Mar. 2026
-
One of Best's nieces, Tatiana Barrett, told The Associated Press that revelations from the report have angered and saddened family and friends.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
She’s grown wise during her absence, sharing in this smoldering, ‘90s-redolent track that some bridges are worth burning, despite the adage.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The home was converted into apartments in 1951 but retained some of the original grandeur that probably wooed the Morgan clan, too (high ceilings and a wood-burning fireplace, in particular).—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And though voting for the award ended before his latest controversy—a comment about opera and ballet that enraged those communities, Chalamet didn’t go into the 98th Academy Awards as the favorite.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The narrators seldom seem bitter; never enraged.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Is steaming better than boiling eggs for deviled eggs?—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The Colorado city of Walsenburg is still under a disaster declaration and boil advisory two days after a major water main break.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Asked if that would annoy and possibly anger Texas Republicans who backed Paxton, Minchillo said.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Still, the loss of 4K support will no doubt annoy streamers.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rankle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankle. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
