as in acrimonious
having or showing deep-seated resentment
a rancorous autobiography in which the author heaps blame on just about everyone who had the misfortune of knowing him
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rancorous
Contrast that with the current perception of American college campuses (and, to an extent, campuses across the wider world) constantly portrayed as rancorous battlegrounds in the culture wars, where dissenting ideas are often collateral damage, as are those promulgating them.
—
Shaun Carver, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
The recent months of campaigning have been volatile and rancorous, underscoring a changing American narrative in which a white, mostly Christian majority is shrinking in the face of a growing multiracial population.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
The conditions were ripe for a takeover, and Richard J. Daley — who had taken control of the Cook County Democratic Party — defeated Kennelly in a rancorous three-way primary in 1955.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2024
These disputes became more rancorous after Russia’s 2008 war in Georgia and its 2014 annexation of Crimea, with liberal internationalists arguing that these wars revealed Putin to be an imperialist, revisionist leader seeking to reconquer the Soviet empire.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Shaun Carver, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
The recent months of campaigning have been volatile and rancorous, underscoring a changing American narrative in which a white, mostly Christian majority is shrinking in the face of a growing multiracial population.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
The conditions were ripe for a takeover, and Richard J. Daley — who had taken control of the Cook County Democratic Party — defeated Kennelly in a rancorous three-way primary in 1955.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2024
These disputes became more rancorous after Russia’s 2008 war in Georgia and its 2014 annexation of Crimea, with liberal internationalists arguing that these wars revealed Putin to be an imperialist, revisionist leader seeking to reconquer the Soviet empire.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rancorous
Adjective
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Their stance is leading to acrimonious discussions about pricing with goods suppliers whose costs have shot up following President Donald J. Trump's tariffs.—
Timothy Aeppel,
USA TODAY,
25 Mar. 2025
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The two legislators parted gracefully, exited the room, and prepared to take an acrimonious, party-line vote on a federal spending bill.—
Kevin R. Kosar,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Harry Belafonte was angry at Martin Luther King’s funeral.—
Made by History,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
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Related article People are angry at Gen Z taking photos of airport trays.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Made with silicone, this teether has a variety of textures that are meant to soothe a baby’s sore gums.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
29 Mar. 2025
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State of play: Cantrell's travel has been a sore spot during her second term.—
Carlie Kollath Wells,
Axios,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The bitter dispute recently tipped into its fourth consecutive month and has escalated.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
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Which is really too bad because bitter is a lot more fun to watch on TV.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Val did something special with a typical 1980s cynical rebel/wisecracker role, giving his character a layer of big brother warmth.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
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On the movie front, Viola Davis is an endangered POTUS in G20, Tom Hardy plays a cynical detective in Havoc, and documentary subjects include the Stranger Things stage production, the Milwaukee Brewers’ 1982 season and the Disney cult classic A Goofy Movie.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Seimetz’s Paula acts as an antagonistic force against Agnes, resentful of her presence and wishing for a child of her own.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2025
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In hospital attacks, unlike random mass shootings elsewhere, the shooter is often targeting somebody, sometimes resentful about the care given a relative who died, Sem added.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But there’s a qualitative difference with a spiteful, foul-mouthed, score-settling president leading by acrid example.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2025
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Semi acrid mid palate and a finish with vanilla and raspberries—doused in acidity.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rancorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rancorous. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
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