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
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
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
-
Mosquitoes may be tiny, but their bites can pack an irritating punch.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Critics note the time and effort needed to remove stubborn labels—after all, few things are more irritating than peeling off a label and being met with sticky residue.—
Caelan McMichael,
Allure,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump has continued his push to help end the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been raging for about 3 1/2 years.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
22 Oct. 2025
-
My father’s kind voice ruptured the sound of violence raging around us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Following physical and emotional abuse, Lafferty became an anxious child who was constantly afraid of angering adults around her.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The new program, Train SMART, also risks angering a network of grassroots chapters and gun violence prevention volunteers at Everytown.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even sage advice given in an annoying manner will eventually be ignored, and the lord at last was driven out of his own house.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Los Angeles, where the produce is so fresh and enticing as to induce tears and the reservation culture is not nearly as annoying as New York, is a sprawling city with a sprawling food scene.—
Jocelyn Silver,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At Curry in a Hurry, Sajjad Chowdhury ladles steaming goat curry into a bowl for a customer while reflecting on the news the very building where investigators say the high-stakes poker games took place is just a block away.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
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As another once-promising season falls apart, this time stamped out in stunningly emphatic fashion, a conversation that had only begun to percolate is now steaming hot.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There are other infuriating remarks, too.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The journey, first to Paris and then through Switzerland and Milan and onwards to Venice, was for the most part pleasant, being blessedly free of many of the wearisome and often infuriating hindrances and misdirections that rail travel usually entails.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to a frustrating start to their 2025-26 campaign.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The divorce led to accusations of physical abuse and a frustrating and costly custody battle.—
Brian Martin,
Oc Register,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cobalt, which can cause a burning sensation when handled, was one of the most common of these and is named for the kobold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The home features two wood-burning fireplaces, a mudroom and a recreational room, according to the listing.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rankling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankling. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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