rankle
rankle Lexical Profile
rankle Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To cause persistent irritation, bitterness, or resentment; to continue to be a painful or festering memory.
"The unfair criticism continued to rankle long after the annual performance review had concluded."
To become inflamed, sore, or ulcerated (of a physical wound or sore).
"Without proper antiseptic care, the deep splinter wound began to rankle and cause severe discomfort."
Word Nuance & Usage
Traditionally used intransitively (e.g., 'the insult rankled in his mind'), 'rankle' is now also widely used transitively with a personal object (e.g., 'the decision rankled the staff'), though some conservative usage guides still prefer the intransitive construction.
• Rhymes for rankle
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English ranklen ('to fester'), borrowed from Old French rancler or draoncler, ultimately derived from Medieval Latin dracunculus ('little dragon' or 'ulcer'), a diminutive of Latin draco ('serpent' or 'dragon').