as in angered
feeling or showing anger
our supervisor was rankled by all the unexpected delays and problems we ran into
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in raged
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
that kind of rude treatment from a young person makes me rankle
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in infuriated
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 rankled
Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Coming several years after the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) and its sweeping modernizations, the encyclical rankled many Catholics who had hoped for a more liberal policy on birth control.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Mar. 2026
But the tone of the new pictures also suggests a return to the Romanticism that rankled him in his youth, or at least a lighter, less conflicted touch.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
But some of the changes have rankled the House.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
The 49ers have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2005, a 21-year drought that has rankled the team’s supporters for years.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
The ease with which Chalamet turned over a new leaf rankled some observers, but the scent of Marty was not so easily washed away.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Nevertheless, the process and state of play have rankled some in the House, especially on the right.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2026
That gesture rankled when Handler discovered the extent of the issues at the house.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
The actions have rankled some MAHA enthusiasts who counted on the administration to tackle chronic disease, especially among children.
—Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Coming several years after the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) and its sweeping modernizations, the encyclical rankled many Catholics who had hoped for a more liberal policy on birth control.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Mar. 2026
But the tone of the new pictures also suggests a return to the Romanticism that rankled him in his youth, or at least a lighter, less conflicted touch.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
But some of the changes have rankled the House.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
The 49ers have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2005, a 21-year drought that has rankled the team’s supporters for years.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
The ease with which Chalamet turned over a new leaf rankled some observers, but the scent of Marty was not so easily washed away.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Nevertheless, the process and state of play have rankled some in the House, especially on the right.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2026
That gesture rankled when Handler discovered the extent of the issues at the house.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankled
Adjective
-
Police said the two male juveniles became angered when the other three would not take them to buy marijuana.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Soon, the faces of the angered New York City citizens around her soften.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The country of around 38 million gained independence from Portugal in 1975, but still bears the scars of a devastating civil war that began straight after independence and raged on and off for 27 years before finally ending in 2002.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The Wolverines hoisted the national championship trophy, confetti dropped and the celebration raged.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That this stalemate has dragged on this long has infuriated Levin, who considers keeping the government functioning a basic tenet of Congress’s job.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Employees at the store allegedly ended up sharing the footage with customers, which authorities say infuriated Pierce’s brother, Marcus Freeman.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The case dragged on for years, and the family became enraged when former District Attorney Pamela Price attempted to downgrade the charges against the three men.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Shortly after administering the technical to an enraged Self, referee Doug Sirmons hit KU’s coach with another tech, ostensibly for remaining on the court instead of returning to the coach’s box.—
Gary Bedore
March 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And yet somehow they've been relegated to the back of the plate for years, steamed into submission and served without fanfare.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Look for whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and words like steamed, baked, poached, roasted, broiled or grilled.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Teams routinely get annoyed with media that spends time on this sort of thing, but there is no better sales tactic than drama.—
Mac Engel
April 16,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Apr. 2026
-
But now Lamar is doing press annoyed with me.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
One of them, Amy, a blond child with limp ponytails and a thin dress that looks like it might have been stained, stands outside a porch door, her fists balled up, mouth open, angry or unhappy or both.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Adames looked more perturbed than angry, putting his hands on his hips before taking off his helmet and slowly walking to first base.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Portland took a 55-35 first-half lead, the Clippers stormed back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The woman in red stormed off after the fight.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rankled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankled. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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