Synonyms of rankling

rankling 1 of 2

adjective

as in irritating

causing annoyance

for some air travelers, the most rankling aspect of the security measures seems to be the restrictions regarding carry-on baggage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritating
• annoying
• frustrating
• disturbing
• aggravating
• vexing
• irksome
• exasperating
• maddening
• vexatious
• galling
• bothersome
• nettlesome
• pesky
• painful
• nettling
• pestiferous
• pestilential
• abrasive
• riling
• carking
• chafing
• peeving
• plaguey
• rebarbative
• pesty
• pestilent
• distractive
• biting
• importunate
• troubling
• troublesome
• displeasing
• infuriating
• burdensome
• discomforting
• disquieting
• distressing
• mischievous
• upsetting
• stressful
• offensive
• angering
• tiresome
• importune
• enraging
• worrisome
• trying
• inconveniencing
• thorny
• spiny
• brattish
• jarring
• bratty
• grating
• jangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasing

rankling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rankle

1

as in raging

to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger

that kind of rude treatment from a young person makes me rankle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• raging
• steaming
• burning
• boiling
• seething
• storming
• fuming
• foaming
• shaking
• agitating
• sizzling
• fulminating
• ranting
• bristling
• seeing red
• raving
• inflaming
• smoldering
• stewing
• roiling
• chafing
• fretting
• flaring (up)
• convulsing

2

as in angering

to make angry

it rankles me when some schools can't even afford paper and pencils for the students

Synonyms & Similar Words

• angering
• infuriating
• enraging
• outraging
• irritating
• annoying
• inflaming
• riling
• roiling
• incensing
• offending
• maddening
• iring
• madding
• aggravating
• provoking
• ticking off
• nettling
• vexing
• steaming up
• affronting
• ruffling
• exasperating
• miffing
• piquing
• huffing
• burning (up)
• getting
• antagonizing
• peeving
• getting one's goat
• embittering
• rubbing the wrong way
• crossing
• putting out
• envenoming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• pleasing
• relieving
• delighting
• allaying
• comforting
• soothing
• consoling
• assuaging
• appeasing
• settling
• placating
• conciliating
• quieting
• pacifying
• calming
• charming
• mollifying
• disarming
• captivating
• bewitching
• enchanting
• lulling
• beguiling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rankling

Verb

Every interaction becomes a hurdle for Arash, if only because the imperfections of life in modern Iran reinforce the sensation of being truly alive, in all its rankling complexity. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

The Herald has learned Council President Liz Breadon visited councilors individually during the recess to ask them to push off the budget vote, rankling Weber, who had recommended a favorable vote take place at the day’s session. — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026

The actress, producer and book club founder took to social media to speak out about leaning in to artificial intelligence, rankling some of her followers in the process. — Anika Reed, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026

But Johnson recalled how in 2024 Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed undocumented people to work at public universities, rankling activists. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 15 Feb. 2026

But when Russia invaded Ukraine, South Africa repeatedly abstained from United Nations votes on the war—rankling officials in Washington. — Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025

Matthew quickly schemes his way into Oliver’s orbit after that first performance, impressing and rankling the group of lackeys in his entourage at the same time. — Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025