rankle
rankle
Definition
ran·kle (raŋ′kəl)
intransitive verb, transitive verb -·kled, -·kling
- Obsolete to fester; become or make inflamed
- to cause or cause to have long-lasting anger, rancor, resentment, etc. their indifference rankled him
Etymology: ME ranclen < OFr rancler < raoncle, draoncle, a fester, ulcer < ML dracunculus < L, dim. of draco, dragon
rankle
Synonyms
rankle
v.
rankle
Usage Examples
Object
- bit: They also completely defied the whole point and motivation of Arthur's character with their ending, which rankled a bit.
- memory: They were liberated by Antony, but the memory rankled.
- year: Readers may detect how the injustice still rankles 30 years on, but I feel much better now it's out in the open.
Preposition: with
- pensioner: That still rankles with pensioners because it meant that the basic state pension did not rise in line with the growth of the economy.
- people: Our attitude rankled with too many people, who failed to grasp the fact that we were the last true punks on the scene.
Adjective complement
- more: Surely, this must rankle more than any other defeat.
Modifying Another Word
- still: Clearly, it still rankled that the wrong horse had been backed in 1938.
- really: Christ, the smug yet hysterical ' pull yourself together ' tone really rankles.
- always: Defeat always rankles, but there was also a sense of relief in that the pressure of maintaining a run had been lifted.
- also: EPA's decision also rankled those representing U.S. electric utilities.
- deeply: The little gestures of contempt and humiliation rankled as deeply as the confinement.
- tho: I can't help but get rankled tho about this Triple Crown business as the filly is rarely mentioned.
Preposition: in
- mind: Both expectations were defeated by the succession of ' Abd al-Melik, and the injury rankled in the mind of ' Amr ibn Sa'id.
