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
Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
The move rankled Davis’ pal Dean Martin, his daughter Deana told PEOPLE in a recent interview.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
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
Trump breaks with Marjorie Taylor Greene The Epstein files and the disgraced former financier's former friendship with the president has long rankled even some of the most devoted MAGA figures.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025
But several aspects of the sales tax measure have rankled Casey and organizations focused on fiscal responsibility.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
That rankled Aviation administrators, who saw a potential problem with FAA rules if the money ever made it to CountryFest or the mayors’ conference.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
This rankled some, who felt Elliott’s typical, bustling self would inject the urgency Villa were lacking.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Chase’s rising fame and immodesty rankled some of his cast mates.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
The move rankled Davis’ pal Dean Martin, his daughter Deana told PEOPLE in a recent interview.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
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
Trump breaks with Marjorie Taylor Greene The Epstein files and the disgraced former financier's former friendship with the president has long rankled even some of the most devoted MAGA figures.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025
But several aspects of the sales tax measure have rankled Casey and organizations focused on fiscal responsibility.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
That rankled Aviation administrators, who saw a potential problem with FAA rules if the money ever made it to CountryFest or the mayors’ conference.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
This rankled some, who felt Elliott’s typical, bustling self would inject the urgency Villa were lacking.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankled
Adjective
-
Soon, the faces of the angered New York City citizens around her soften.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In 1942, as desert warfare raged in North Africa, a crew of physiologists was dispatched to the Sonoran Desert to conduct experiments on soldiers.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
8 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
-
That defeat denied Indianapolis a playoff appearance and infuriated the man in charge of it all.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The lack of details about the operations has infuriated members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Things eventually come to a head back in Cairo, where local police arrest Roper and his team, only for the enraged buyers, who were defrauded due to Pine's intervention, to seize the convoy.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
If not for the deeply funny asides and anecdotes from the book’s fictional characters, the reader would be left enraged and shaking.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Oysters in the shell should be steamed for four to nine minutes in a steamer that’s already steaming.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Filled with chicken, cilantro, green onions, cabbage, soy sauce, and garlic, they can be cooked in the microwave, steamed, or pan-fried.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Luis is frankly annoyed by this type of music.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Vulnerability is currency on reality television, and after a season of exposing their own struggles and embarrassments, the other women are annoyed that Meredith wants to keep up appearances.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Robby is angry at himself for not seeing it.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
None of the referees appeared to be struck by the objects being thrown on the court, despite video showing a windfall of debris raining down from the angry crowd.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Stars have now lost six straight games (0-3-3) after getting battered Tuesday night by those same Hurricanes that Colorado stormed back against three days prior.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
After Washington led by as many as 26 points late in the third quarter, the Magic stormed back and used a 42-18 run to cut their deficit to just two points with five minutes left in the game.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rankled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankled. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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