1
as in steams
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 angers
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 rankles
The 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in Lisbon still rankles.
—
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 21 May 2026
That such a talented businessman seems to have so little faith in the point of his product certainly rankles this consumer.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
That is something that rankles Stammen, among others.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
The irony and meaninglessness of the carnage rankles, especially when Ulysses is presented as such a nice guy who is prone to de-escalation in his day-to-day work.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The irony and meaninglessness of the violence rankles, especially when Ulysses is presented as such a nice guy who is prone to de-escalation and community care in his day-to-day work.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
That notion has its romantic appeal, of course, but rankles all the same for its score of simplifications.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Nothing rankles fans more than a team that continues to make the same mistake over and over again.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
The International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded sovereignty to Cambodia over an area that included the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which still rankles many Thais.
—CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 21 May 2026
That such a talented businessman seems to have so little faith in the point of his product certainly rankles this consumer.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
That is something that rankles Stammen, among others.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
The irony and meaninglessness of the carnage rankles, especially when Ulysses is presented as such a nice guy who is prone to de-escalation in his day-to-day work.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The irony and meaninglessness of the violence rankles, especially when Ulysses is presented as such a nice guy who is prone to de-escalation and community care in his day-to-day work.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
That notion has its romantic appeal, of course, but rankles all the same for its score of simplifications.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Nothing rankles fans more than a team that continues to make the same mistake over and over again.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
The International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded sovereignty to Cambodia over an area that included the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which still rankles many Thais.
—CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankles
Verb
-
During that time, the steak essentially steams.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
This all comes as the legal fight over the audit steams ahead, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Set in 1986, the story follows two brothers, Irwin and Gary Pearl, whose get-rich scheme to help clean up the Gowanus Canal ends in disaster after Irwin (Teller), a nebbish family man, angers Russian mobsters by unwittingly witnessing their criminal activity.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
LaCava said the change seems like another city policy that angers many residents without major impact.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some epic scenes were invented wholesale, like a tearful reunion between Louis and Lestat in their old New Orleans home as a hurricane rages around them.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
Every Emmy season, a battle rages over which network or streamer earns the most nominations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Georgia Supreme Court challenger Jen Jordan infuriates Republicans with a new fundraising email.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
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To that end, Nate's extravagant wedding infuriates Naz, who thinks Nate has the ability to pay him back but is holding out on him.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Also contaminated are fish, staples of Midwestern fish fries and fish boils, and an important part of the diet of Indigenous tribes, certain immigrant populations and communities of color.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
His weight fluctuated and boils broke out under his arms and along his neck, said Ramos, who frequently speaks with Castillo and Otero via phone.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Verb
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This is exactly the kind of mainstream Christian view that enrages Allie Beth Stuckey.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This enrages Rebecca, who demands half his new salary, and the pair engage in a battle for control.—
Ilana Gordon,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Concentration burns glucose, decision-making depletes mental energy reserves, and by mid-afternoon, the prefrontal cortex is operating at a fraction of its morning capacity.—
William Jones
June 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
-
The set comes with 35 sticks, each of which burns for up to 25 minutes, and a ceramic incense holder.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Seeing this much effort put into ripping off people annoys him.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rankles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankles. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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