as in irritating
causing annoyance
for some air travelers, the most rankling aspect of the security measures seems to be the restrictions regarding carry-on baggage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in raging
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 angering
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 rankling
Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Trump's administration has come under intense criticism over its handling of records related to the case, rankling many leading voices within the MAGA-sphere.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Matthew quickly schemes his way into Oliver’s orbit after that first performance, impressing and rankling the group of lackeys in his entourage at the same time.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
But when Russia invaded Ukraine, South Africa repeatedly abstained from United Nations votes on the war—rankling officials in Washington.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Trump's administration has come under intense criticism over its handling of records related to the case, rankling many leading voices within the MAGA-sphere.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Matthew quickly schemes his way into Oliver’s orbit after that first performance, impressing and rankling the group of lackeys in his entourage at the same time.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankling
Adjective
-
Rubbing alcohol isn’t corrosive to metals, doesn’t stain clothes, and doesn’t cause the same irritating fumes as working with bleach does.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The hypoallergenic face serum is free from potentially irritating ingredients, such as parabens and synthetic fragrances, too.—
Lauren Taylor,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Operation Midnight Hammer benefited immensely from the frantic circumstances of the war raging between Israel and Iran at the time.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Everything about him was a daily routine of health, after daily routines of raging, probably.—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But when the new terminal opened, the historic plane did not make the move, angering aviation enthusiasts.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
What’s more, all that accomplishes is annoying and angering the driver who is being tailgated.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There is nothing more annoying than corners coming undone mid-sleep.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Feb. 2026
-
One layer gives me all-over, medium-to-full coverage, a few additional dots to my cheeks and chin cover up the annoying splotchiness that's showed up on my skin recently.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After steaming each section and while the area is still warm, scrub with an old toothbrush to lift any grime.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
-
It can also be used to wrap sandwiches or other items before heating to keep them secure, or for steaming proteins and vegetables, helping retain their moisture and nutrients.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The gesture provoked a seismic reaction internationally while infuriating Olympic officials who claimed Smith and Carlos used the world stage to humiliate their home country.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Seeing Sparkle cry about Landfair’s experience — something that Landfair hadn’t fully come to terms with — was discombobulating and infuriating.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
People who have filed claims complain that the review process has been complicated, frustrating and painstakingly slow and that cases are closed with no notice and no money awarded for their losses.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The situation with Harlow, our deaf patient, is incredibly frustrating.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Coal ash is the residue left over from burning coal, typically produced at power plants.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
17 Feb. 2026
-
People mostly hibernate in their wood-and-tin houses, burning firewood to brave the freezing cold.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rankling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankling. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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