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
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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
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Recent Examples of rankle
Dobson's unflinching conservatism rankled some Republican leaders at the height of his influence.
—
Jason Derose, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
President Donald Trump’s flirtation with the idea of the federal government acquiring a 10% stake in the United States computer design and manufacturing company Intel has rankled conservatives.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2025
Environmental groups, others long oppose SpaceX rocket launches That aggressive approach, though, has rankled environmentalists and others who have criticized SpaceX's operations for potentially decimating regional ecosystems.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Having to spend three hours being poked and prodded and prevented from making phone calls rankled; Diamandis is an incorrigible multitasker.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Jason Derose, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
President Donald Trump’s flirtation with the idea of the federal government acquiring a 10% stake in the United States computer design and manufacturing company Intel has rankled conservatives.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2025
Environmental groups, others long oppose SpaceX rocket launches That aggressive approach, though, has rankled environmentalists and others who have criticized SpaceX's operations for potentially decimating regional ecosystems.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Having to spend three hours being poked and prodded and prevented from making phone calls rankled; Diamandis is an incorrigible multitasker.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankle
Verb
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His observant approach to capturing the sights and sounds of New York’s Chinatown and Lower East Side — the streets packed with extras, the kitchens where Aishe works steaming and bustling — displays what can only be a documentarian’s attention to local detail and color.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
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Basically, the creator, who shares content on the platform using the handle @mothercould, takes a cup filled with hot water and a paper towel, and places her child's ear over the opening of the cup, steaming the ear.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit said that groundswell of support infuriated Bove, who was portrayed in one video as the Batman villain Bane, while Driscoll was depicted as Batman.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
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Anyone infuriated about the failure to adequately address climate change and the shortcomings in national emergency preparedness will find plenty here to stoke their anger.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From excellence and respectability to rage and raunch to the abstract and avant-garde.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
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Maybe this works fine — until that kid leaves home to go to college or work and ends up in an urgent care in the middle of the night with raging flu symptoms or a broken wrist.—
Dr. Jill Grimes,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Robert Bianco, a longtime TV critic for USA Today, emphasized how strongly Levin supported him even when Bianco’s reviews angered Levin’s sources.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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Platner also worked as a contractor for Constellis, a successor to the security company Blackwater, which has angered some online activists.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The wildfire has been burning on private land.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Jets also failed twice to convert on two-point conversions, once in the first half (Braelon Allen was stuffed) and again in the fourth quarter — after needlessly burning a timeout, Fields forced a throw to Wilson, surrounded by three defensive backs, in the back right corner of the end zone.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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We should all be enraged by these practices and should withdraw whatever support is left of the administration’s immigration agenda.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
30 Aug. 2025
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Medvedev was enraged by chair umpire Greg Allensworth’s decision to award his opponent a first serve after a photographer entered the court on match point.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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How to hard boil an egg Let’s start with the basics.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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In communities without clean water, families often burn wood to boil contaminated water, contributing to both deforestation and emissions.—
Sivan Yaari,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Comments about my fast walk annoy me.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Keanu, still annoyed from the veto ceremony, talked to Ava Pearl in the HOH room and called Rachel a liar.—
David Wysong,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rankle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankle. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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