rancorous

adjective

ran·​cor·​ous ˈraŋ-k(ə-)rəs How to pronounce rancorous (audio)
: marked by rancor : deeply malevolent
rancorous envy
rancorously adverb

Examples of rancorous in a Sentence

a rancorous autobiography in which the author heaps blame on just about everyone who had the misfortune of knowing him
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As Williams exited, a rancorous round of boos accompanied the two-time National League Reliever of the Year’s walk to the dugout. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025 After closing the doors of its consulate general in St. Petersburg in 2018, amid rancorous relations with the Kremlin, and without any new openings in recent years, Washington reduced its total posts to 273. Bonnie Bley, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2019 State of play: O'Connell enjoys wide public approval that elected officials at any level rarely find in this rancorous political environment. Nate Rau, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025 For nearly two decades, Twitter had been considered the internet’s town square, chaotic and often rancorous but informative and diversely discursive. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rancorous

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1517, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rancorous was circa 1517

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Cite this Entry

“Rancorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rancorous. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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