to rankle
10
8.0
- verb
- /ˈræŋkəl/
:
doler
- What rankled him as much as the loss was the callous injustice of it.
- it particularly rankles
Examples
-
His constant criticism of my decisions began to rankle after a while.
-
That must rankle your mother to no end.
-
Does it rankle, being separated in this way?
-
But it rankles me when somebody tries to force somebody to do something.
-
Erik's not including her in the house party in the Hamptons had rankled all week.
Fiction book (1996) -
Over the summer, though the annoyance of the lone B+ still rankled him, Martin's sense of disappointment faded.
Fiction book (2002) -
Her comment about my work continues to rankle me even though I try to forget it.
-
It really rankled him when they dismissed his ideas without consideration.
Synonyms
144
3.6
Annoy someone again and again to make them react
78
2.9
Make someone feel annoyed or impatient, often by repeated small actions
63
6.9
Make someone annoyed, often by small things
46
5.0
Make someone very angry
28
4.7
To make someone feel annoyed or unhappy
25
7.2
To annoy someone again and again so they feel bothered
9
6.7
Annoy someone more and more over time
8
7.1
To annoy someone deeply
7
4.9
To bother someone again and again until they feel angry
3
9.9
To feel angry or bitter about something unfair that you cannot forget
2
8.2
To offend someone and make them feel annoyed or hurt
2
8.2
Cause ongoing trouble and confusion for people or things
2
6.8
To make someone feel annoyed
2
6.8
To make someone feel more and more upset or angry inside
2
6.8
To annoy or upset someone in a way that feels sharp
1
8.4
To feel offended when someone says or does something you dislike
1
7.9
To make someone angry or upset
1
8.9
To cause someone pain or deep sadness
To make a person or group feel bitter and angry
To make someone feel more bitter and angry about something
Antonyms
How Irritating
Surface Forms
Etymology
Rankle comes from an old sense of rank meaning 'foul' or 'rotten', used for a wound that stayed sore and would not heal. So when something rankles, it keeps irritating you inside, like a hurt that will not go away.