1
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
that kind of rude treatment from a young person makes me rankle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to infuriate
to make angry
it rankles me when some schools can't even afford paper and pencils for the students
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rankle
The move has rankled some of the agency’s remaining staff and left some questioning how broader changes may affect the agency’s science and exploration goals.
—
Jackie Wattles, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025
The National Security Council ousters have rankled those in the national security and defense communities, with critics of the move expressing concern the firings would serve to weaken U.S. intelligence and security.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025
Such an ultimatum would likely have rankled European capitals, but many would have complied.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2025
So the letter’s high-minded tone will rankle, no doubt.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Jackie Wattles, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025
The National Security Council ousters have rankled those in the national security and defense communities, with critics of the move expressing concern the firings would serve to weaken U.S. intelligence and security.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025
Such an ultimatum would likely have rankled European capitals, but many would have complied.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2025
So the letter’s high-minded tone will rankle, no doubt.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rankle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankle
Verb
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Romito’s fried chicken is the signature item for good reason — steamed at 154 degrees, marinated in herbs, and then pressure-fried for ten minutes to lock in moisture and keep the meat tender and light.—
Lindsey Tramuta,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 May 2025
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The unstoppable Baeza had steamed away strongly from the peloton of sixteen runners swimming in the mud behind him and was blazing up on the outside, deep in a furious bid to run Journalism down.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
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One thing is certain: Tyreek can be frustrating, exciting, dramatic, funny, sobering, entertaining and infuriating all in the same day.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2025
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Dorsey’s effort has infuriated critics in a city that has pioneered harm reduction.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
6 May 2025
Verb
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In a time when debates over teaching Black history are raging across the country, even the perception that major institutions could be quietly backing away from civil rights history feels alarming.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
28 Apr. 2025
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The move from rally scoring to conventional side-out scoring debate raged on during the event.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Trump's actions angered Canadians and stoked a surge in nationalism, helping the Liberals to flip the narrative and win a fourth straight term in power.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
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Along with safety, downtown residents say green space has been one of the top concerns of the almost 100,000 people who live there, so the attack on some of the area’s few trees particularly angered people.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
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The blood alcohol level of hockey player brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau did not contribute to their deaths the day they were fatally struck by an allegedly drunk and enraged driver, a judge ruled Tuesday.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
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In Sedona, after the City Council approved a zoning change in the spring of 2024 that would have allowed homeless workers to park in a public lot, enraged residents organized a referendum that shut it down a few months later, before anyone parked there.—
Rukmini Callimachi,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Following tradition for the upcoming conclave, nuns will prepare local food such as lamb skewers, spaghetti, and boiled vegetables for cardinals.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 May 2025
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In the summer, Nichols’s grandmother would boil plants from her garden in a large pot to make herbal medicine.—
Oliver Whang,
New Yorker,
3 May 2025
Verb
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Easily annoyed by noises like gum smacking or cereal slurping.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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The controversy over attire comes just two months after Zelensky was criticized and called disrespectful by a reporter at the White House for not wearing a suit during his visit to the Oval Office, with reports suggesting that Trump was annoyed by Zelensky's choice of clothing.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rankle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankle. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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