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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Recent Examples of rancorous
No rancorous divorces or business disputes, restraining orders or recent financial trouble — nothing connecting him to the two men accused of his murder.
—
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rancorous
Adjective
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Together, the two generals were able to reconcile what were often deep and sometimes acrimonious divisions among their colleagues and between their political masters.—
MARGARET MACMILLAN,
Foreign Affairs,
21 July 2025
-
At this point, the main takeaway is that a league that has a long history of acrimonious labor relations with its players is in a more cooperative place — something Bettman has been trumpeting ever since Walsh took the reins at the players’ association just over two years ago.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
And recent changes have made some gamblers angry, especially those who play professionally.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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William Anderson, a writer who first wrote about Laura at age 16, told Slate in 2016 that Rose was angry at him for saying the books weren’t entirely true.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Richardson, who was dealing with a sore right ankle during summer league practices in Orlando, exited early in the third quarter, but was able to return in the final frame.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 July 2025
-
Chisholm missed five weeks toward the beginning of the season with a right oblique strain, then sat out of Sunday’s Subway Series finale at Citi Field for a sore right shoulder.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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In a surprise to anybody who doesn’t spend all their free time tweeting, Rollins shed his crutches and cashed in on his bitter rival CM Punk.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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The tag-team match between bitter rivals kicked off SummerSlam Night 1 Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Rufus Sewell, with his piercing eyes and severe features, will costar in Pride and Prejudice as the dry, cynical Mr. Bennet, Lizzy's father.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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The fact that there is a developing crisis does not emanate from Israeli decisions, but from a cynical game played by Hamas and the United Nations.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Gurdon argues these buffer zones are a weakness for China, as they are populated by resentful, non-Chinese ethnicities.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
23 July 2025
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Iraqi Mediation The move was welcomed in Iraq, where Turkish cross-border operations against the PKK had long provoked public anger in a country fiercely protective of its sovereignty and deeply resentful of foreign incursions.—
Tanya Goudsouzian,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Families huddled in underground metro stations for shelter and acrid smoke hung over the city centre.—
Pavel Polityuk,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
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Explosions could still be seen in the area as of 10 p.m. and an acrid smell wafted across the fields around the one-mile evacuation area.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rancorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rancorous. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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