rankle

[ rang-kuhl ]
/ ˈræŋ kəl /

verb (used without object), ran·kled, ran·kling.

(of unpleasant feelings, experiences, etc.) to continue to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment within the mind; fester; be painful.

verb (used with object), ran·kled, ran·kling.

to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment in: His colleague's harsh criticism rankled him for days.

Origin of rankle

1250–1300; Middle English ranclen < Middle French rancler, Old French raoncler, variant of draoncler to fester, derivative of draoncle a sore < Late Latin dracunculus small serpent, diminutive of Latin dracō serpent; see dragon, carbuncle

SYNONYMS FOR rankle

1, 2 irritate, gall, chafe.

OTHER WORDS FROM rankle

ran·kling·ly, adverb un·ran·kled, adjective

Words nearby rankle

rankine cycle, rankine scale, ranking, ranking member, rankism, rankle, rankshift, ransack, ransom, ransome, ransomware

Words related to rankled

embitter, exasperate, inflame, bother, harass, vex, hurt, gall, rile, irk, torment, anger, chafe, fester, aggravate, pain, pester, nettle, plague, mortify

Example sentences from the Web for rankled

British Dictionary definitions for rankled

rankle
/ (ˈræŋkəl) /

verb

(intr) to cause severe and continuous irritation, anger, or bitterness; fester his failure to win still rankles

Word Origin for rankle

C14 ranclen, from Old French draoncler to fester, from draoncle ulcer, from Latin dracunculus small serpent, from dracō serpent; see dragon