: bitter deep-seated ill will
Choose the Right Synonym for rancor

enmity, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, animosity, rancor, animus mean deep-seated dislike or ill will.

enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

an unspoken enmity

hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

hostility between the two nations

antipathy and antagonism imply a natural or logical basis for one's hatred or dislike, antipathy suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and antagonism suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility.

a natural antipathy for self-seekers
antagonism between the brothers

animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

animosity that led to revenge

rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

rancor filled every line of his letters

animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

objections devoid of personal animus

Examples of rancor in a Sentence

She answered her accusers calmly and without rancor. In the end, the debate created a degree of rancor among the committee members.
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.
The evolution of the rule started around 2016, when club owner Josh Parise says he was getting fed up with the rancor of political discourse in the U.S. — personal attacks were on the rise, even within families, as was cancel culture. Robert Benincasa, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024 The Times reports America First has intentionally kept its activities quiet amid Trump’s rancor over Project 2025, operating largely under wraps as Project 2025 has grabbed national headlines. Alison Durkee, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024 Political observers on Wednesday said the two announcements by the moderate Democrats appeared to signal unusual rancor among the local party, as well as a potential failure by Price and Thao to consolidate power and support after taking office. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024 Military inequality can cause rancor between soldiers and their superiors. Jason Lyall, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2022 See all Example Sentences for rancor 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rancour, from Anglo-French rancur, from Late Latin rancor rancidity, rancor, from Latin rancēre

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rancor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rancor

Cite this Entry

“Rancor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rancor. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

: deep hatred
rancorous
-k(ə-)rəs
adjective
rancorously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on rancor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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