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
He was rankled by Miami being behind the Irish.
—
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Dec. 2025
But that, of course, rankled the building's neighbors, as did the lights filling the sky each night.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025
As with all circuits, driver safety is going to be the priority, even if that does mean extra track works that could rankle some locals.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2025
Even as the White House’s proposal remains in flux, the notion of extending any part of President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement is likely to rankle conservatives who have sought to repeal and replace the law for well over a decade.
—Seung Min Kim, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Dec. 2025
But that, of course, rankled the building's neighbors, as did the lights filling the sky each night.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025
As with all circuits, driver safety is going to be the priority, even if that does mean extra track works that could rankle some locals.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2025
Even as the White House’s proposal remains in flux, the notion of extending any part of President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement is likely to rankle conservatives who have sought to repeal and replace the law for well over a decade.
—Seung Min Kim, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankle
Verb
-
Acorn squash can be baked, roasted, or steamed for a tasty side dish.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Humidity often corrodes cables and steams camera lenses.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The development appears to have infuriated the center’s interim president, MAGA loyalist Richard Grenell.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s blunt warnings have infuriated the country’s leaders, who have since doubled down on crushing the protests.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When the sun goes down, three beams of light will illuminate the sky over the town that was, piercing the darkness that this time last year was lit with the unholy glow of a fire raging, with no end in sight.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That winter, the concrete spillway collapsed in one section during massive storms, prompting the evacuation of 188,000 people as water raged uncontrolled into the river below, and concerns grew that part of the dam might fail.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Walk out of a play’s shadows back into the clear light of day without a there to take with you, and even a burning cauldron will become little more than a brief candle.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Veg/cm/61 Fire has been burning on private land.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Starting over with a new coach or general manager right now takes contender off the table, and judging by the support thrown behind the head coach, would enrage Burrow in the process.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Jensen’s father, David Jensen, was enraged by McIntyre’s not guilty plea.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
They’re boiled and rolled in breadcrumbs browned in butter, topped with powdered sugar, and served warm.—
Irv Erdos,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Freeze extra for later, sans any pasta, which is better when freshly boiled.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
She’d been awakened by their puppy, and had been annoyed at Ryan, who hadn’t gotten up early with the dog like he was supposed to.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Kelce was evaluated for a concussion in the locker room, and he was annoyed at having to answer the questions that are part of the test.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rankle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankle. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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