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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of rancorous
On Thursday, a federal judge extended an order that had blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to stop Harvard University from enrolling foreign students — the latest in an increasingly rancorous fight between the nation’s oldest university and the federal government.
—
Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for rancorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rancorous
Adjective
-
Thursday, representation from the suing teams and from NASCAR had an acrimonious hearing in Uptown Charlotte — one replete with salacious internal messages.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Grimsby’s fortunes have been revived since a takeover led by local businessmen Jason Stockwood and Andrew Pettit ended an acrimonious spell under former owner John Fenty in 2021.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The family defended themselves against an angry mob of hundreds of people who surrounded the house, throwing rocks and threatening the family, Duggan said.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Freed of her caring duties, angry and uncertain about her future Karl gets on a Greyhound bus and heads to Las Vegas where Jean is working as a waitress at the El Cortez.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Beyond that, the Trent Frederic deal doesn’t inspire confidence and the team’s continuing goaltending issues are also a sore spot.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Sanchez could potentially provide additional depth at catcher if Carlos Narvaez winds up missing extended time with his sore right knee.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Bright, intense purple; aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate, myrtle and a hint of tobacco.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Marie Callender’s Pastry Pie Shells: This crumbly frozen pie crust had a texture more like shortbread with no buttery flakes in sight, and its bitter aftertaste didn’t leave us wanting more.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet this promising start devolved into a prime example of the sort of cynical assholery that today would be called a hot take, or even clickbait.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The second was even more cynical as it was designed to preserve the seats of all incumbents, not just Democrats, and succeeded in more than 99% of House elections.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In one of the spy spoof’s great running gags, his resentful Agent 13 would pop up in mailboxes, grandfather clocks, fire hydrants, planters, etc. while on uncomfortable undercover assignments.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The reek began to overwhelm the culinary artistry of the chefs, who shot resentful glances at the weighing station.—
Nathaniel Rich,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Families huddled in underground metro stations for shelter and acrid smoke hung over the city centre.—
Pavel Polityuk,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
-
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 3 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share