RANKLE Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

rankle

verb

ˈraŋ-kəl

Definition of rankle

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

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 All this will rankle many, particularly young people, who are less likely to own their own homes and whose support for the monarchy is already in decline. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 14 June 2026 While this might rankle a certain type of science fiction reader who expects rigorous world building and a straightforward plot, Unferth’s playfulness injects new life into some trusty old tropes that have calcified into clichés. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 Armenia also played host to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a move that further rankled the Kremlin, especially because Pashinyan and Zelensky held talks in English, rather than in Russian, the old Soviet lingua franca. — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 8 June 2026 The Herald has learned Council President Liz Breadon visited councilors individually during the recess to ask them to push off the budget vote, rankling Weber, who had recommended a favorable vote take place at the day’s session. — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rankle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankle

Verb

In fact, one of the first things most folks will want to do, possibly before even grabbing a drink or snack, is to rip off those steaming boots and slide on something more comfortable.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
Lucien Laviscount enters the scene and steams it up as Hot Guy who fandangoes with Laila and then upends the apple cart later on.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Definition of steam

Verb

Speaking to them on the phone is infuriating since most of the conversation is about what’s going on with Kaden.

— Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
A week before Wembanyama agreed to that contract, the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the division-rival Philadelphia 76ers for a surprisingly meager package, which infuriated much of their fanbase.

— Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of infuriate

Verb

In January 2025, as the LA wildfires raged, people placed bets on Polymarket, one of the leading prediction market platforms.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
These two characters have maybe two minutes of screentime between them, and yet a certain portion of the internet, and Elon Musk, have raged, gnashed teeth and howled to the wind about the way this denigrates a Greek classic.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of rage

Verb

When Odysseus meets Sinon’s ghost — enraged by the circumstances of his death outside Troy — at the entrance to the underworld during his voyage home, Sinon warns Odysseus of the dangers his family faces back in Ithaca.

— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Year in and year out, in incidents small and noticeably larger, refinery accidents enraged neighbors and attracted regulators.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of enrage

Verb

Using a tea kettle also reduces the risk of spilling or splashing boiling water on yourself.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
There are grilled or sautéed shrimp dishes, a crispy tilapia served with potato chips, and of course, their shrimp boil with corn, potatoes and sausage in a garlic butter or spicy sauce.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

Definition of boil

Verb

To make matters worse, the team also polled people on what behaviors annoy them most about other beachgoers.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.

— Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of annoy

Browse Nearby Words

rankings

rankle

rankled

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“Rankle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankle. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of rankle

verb

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