rankle

Meaning

Verb

1. To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony
2. To fester.

Noun

A festering, embittering object or condition, either mental, or a physical sore or ulcer.

Synonyms

fret

anger

💢

be angry

vex

aggravate

ail

irritate

fester

nettle

be enraged

pain

pique

grate

eat into

provoke

rile

embitter

be furious

be indignant

harry

hassle

hurt

incite

inflame

irk

miff

offend

peeve

pester

plague

rage

😡

smart

smoulder

sour

stimulate

tease

twinge

upset

whet

bear someone a grudge

have pain

be indignant with

bear someone malice

habour malice

ache

chafe at

afflict

affront

beleaguer

beset

blackguard

bug

🐛

bullyrag

chafe

devil

displease

dun

eat

🍽️

exacerbate

exasperate

excite

ferret

gall

get to

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹæŋ.kəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ranklen

In summary

From Middle English ranklen, ranclen, from Old French rancler, räoncler, draoncler (“to ulcerate, to form a boil”), from Old French draoncle (“a boil”), from Latin dracunculus (“little serpent”), diminutive of Latin dracō (“serpent, dragon”).