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
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
The bill’s reemergence has rankled Republican lawmakers, who said new regulation on warehouses would target some of the state’s largest employers and insert the state into the employer-employee relationship.
—Ct Mirror, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Privacy and personal property concerns, rankled egos, etc.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The implication of the injury saga rankled White, who felt the Bulls medical team provided adequate care during his time in Chicago.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
The bill’s reemergence has rankled Republican lawmakers, who said new regulation on warehouses would target some of the state’s largest employers and insert the state into the employer-employee relationship.
—Ct Mirror, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Privacy and personal property concerns, rankled egos, etc.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The implication of the injury saga rankled White, who felt the Bulls medical team provided adequate care during his time in Chicago.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 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
-
To the stories and history of his grandparents in the El Salvador of the 1980s when a horrific civil war raged.—
Sara Sidner,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The rest of the crew cowered at the table while the fight raged on just an arm’s length away.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The liberal Democratic governor, whose strict gun control measures have long infuriated gun owners, this week filed a bill to allow Sunday hunting and expand crossbow hunting, long overdue moves that aimed to shore up one of her biggest weaknesses in an election year.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The arrest infuriated Anderson who said O'Malley is married with two young children and would have turned himself in.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Latinx people of conscience recognize our own tios, tias, primos, primas, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers in the brown faces being livestreamed with blood and agony pouring into enraged mouths asking for help.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Young leaves and shoots can be used in foods such as salads, or steamed, pickled, or sautéed.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The dish is topped with a final wonton layer and a bit of chicken broth or water, then steamed in a steamer for about 25 minutes.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One who grew up respectful but annoyed by the success the league previously had in Seattle.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Social media reactions to the bunny range from enamored to amused to annoyed at the price tag, which runs from $112 to $140.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That was the result of angry partisans taking seriously Trump’s bogus election-fraud claims.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
House Republicans are angry that the bill passed early Friday by the Senate does not fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After walking a few blocks, the protest turned physical when a man in a brown jacket stormed into the crowd of teens.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Warriors led by as many as nine in the second, but the Pistons stormed back and took a 57-50 advantage into halftime.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rankled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankled. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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