rankled 1 of 2

as in angered
feeling or showing anger our supervisor was rankled by all the unexpected delays and problems we ran into

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rankled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rankle

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 rankled
Verb
One part of Harris’ platform particularly rankled Sasse. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024 This has rankled many in America’s spy community. Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Nov. 2024 The new labor movement has clearly rankled prominent tech figures, Musk among them. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024 Those comments rankled Swayman’s agent Lewis Gross, who posted a response to Neely on social media. Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankled
Verb
  • The sequence of events clearly angered Bain.
    Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The move angered fans, and a scandal over offensive remarks Richards had made on a podcast led him to quit before his episodes aired.
    Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • During a House Democratic caucus meeting, Jeffries presided over what sources described as an energetic caucus in which Democrats raged over being cut out of negotiations on the bill.
    Andrew Solender, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
  • This, as war raged in Europe, with Putin’s brutal campaign against Ukraine.
    Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The newspaper includes the story of how Brando was enraged to discover his voice had been dubbed by an Italian actor for the local version.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2025
  • But conservatives said they were enraged by the legislation.
    Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • As a result, Black individuals were beaten at random by angry mobs throughout the nation’s capital, including outside of the White House, according to BlackPast, which reported police didn’t intervene.
    Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
  • One protester was shot to death by a Capitol police officer while at the head of an angry mob pushing through a door.
    The Editors, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Big, sometimes uncontrollable emotions are a normal part of growing up, and gentle parents at least try to not dismiss their or get annoyed with their kids when those challenging moments come up.
    Alex Vance, Parents, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Initially annoyed by his bubbly personality, Jovie eventually warms up to Buddy, and the pair fall in love.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Gabriela Cowperthwaite Twitter aside, there’s no better way to get indignant in a short amount of time than by watching Blackfish, Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s documentary look into the world of captive killer whales.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
  • If Wired of the 2010s was the cheerful herald of a shiny, happy future (not a judgment!), this piece is its indignant child, pointing accusingly at the mess.
    Longreads, Longreads, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Richard Arnold, the chief executive whose departure had already been announced, went round the room and shook everyone’s hand, expressing his belief the future at United would be bright.
    Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
  • The camera then cut to Johansson, who shook her head while grimacing.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The slow-burn setup (even despite punctuations of mad violence) all leads to the requisite gala centerpiece, where the quote-unquote new and improved Elvira is revealed to her potential Prince.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The fires that tore through Altadena and Pacific Palisades have created a mad rush for a place to live, as thousands of newly homeless families enter what was already a housing market in crisis.
    Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rankled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankled. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

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