RANKLE Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

rankle

verb

ˈraŋ-kəl

Definition of rankle

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

Relevance

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

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 rankle The Recon’s range will rankle some, but, honestly, the same complaints can be made about the fuel economy and driving range of the most capable internal combustion off-roaders. — Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2026 The brief war and status of the islands still rankles many Argentinians, and political leaders there are frequently pressured to take up the cause. — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 Districts rankled by LifeWise rollout On a Friday in May, a LifeWise program director notified a Denton ISD middle school that Bible classes would begin the following Monday. — Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 In one season under Walter, season-ticket price increases rankled Lakers fans. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rankle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankle

Verb

Shawn, his parents, and the stranger were sitting around the dining table, their bowls of rice steaming before them, when the knock came.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
As America steams headlong into November, working-class folks are still at loggerheads with its political class.

— Jim Beaugez, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of steam

Verb

Some administration officials argue that Washington is merely trying to avoid unnecessarily infuriating Beijing.

— David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026
Some descendants worry that the new research from Kurin and his colleagues will only infuriate die-hard Jefferson apologists further.

— Andrew Lawler, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of infuriate

Verb

Tension in France French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addressed the nation on Wednesday night, to try and calm the student protests that have raged for more than two weeks.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
As protests raged at more than 1,200 French high schools this week, police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets in some cases.

— Reuters, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of rage

Verb

The widespread use of arrests, tear gas and riot-control weapons against teenagers is fueling defiance and angering some parents and teachers.

— NICOLAS GARRIGA, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party champion Taiwan’s separate identity from China, a position that frequently angers Beijing, which views the island as Chinese territory.

— Reuters, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of anger

Verb

Oura might not be under the same pressure to access capital as a cash-burning startup.

— Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
The scene is a sensory one, with layered cowhide rugs, leather armchairs, a wood-burning fire, and twinkling chandeliers that were original to the Pulitzers’ home.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of burn

Verb

Counsel was enraged that his gambit was foiled by one jury holdout on the insanity argument.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
That day in August, the woman was awakened by Ross, who was enraged by a photo she was tagged in on Instagram, according to Ross’ arrest report.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of enrage

Verb

What annoys me is that this whole thing is called Roaring 20th, so why was there not a flapper and Great Gatsby theme?

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Coach Rhett Lashlee was already annoyed with special teams coming into the game, and that was before the Mustangs botched two PAT attempts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoy

Browse Nearby Words

rankings

rankle

rankled

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rankle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankle. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rankle

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Luddite

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes