Rankle

Pronunciation: /ˈræŋkəl/

Definitions of rankle

verb to cause annoyance or resentment

Example Sentences

A1 The rude comment about her appearance really rankled her.

A2 The unfair treatment from her boss continued to rankle her for weeks.

B1 His constant criticism began to rankle his colleagues, causing tension in the office.

B2 The unresolved issue between the two countries continued to rankle their diplomatic relations.

C1 The betrayal by her closest friend still rankled with her, even after all these years.

C2 The decision to cut funding for the program rankled many members of the community, leading to protests.

Examples of rankle in a Sentence

formal The criticism from her colleagues continued to rankle her.

informal It really rankles me when people don't clean up after themselves.

slang That comment really rankled me, dude.

figurative The memory of his betrayal still rankles in her heart.

Grammatical Forms of rankle

• past tense: rankled
• plural: rankles
• comparative: more rankled
• superlative: most rankled
• present tense: rankle
• future tense: will rankle
• perfect tense: have rankled
• continuous tense: is rankling
• singular: rankles
• positive degree: rankle
• infinitive: to rankle
• gerund: rankling
• participle: rankling

Origin and Evolution of rankle

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'rankle' originated from the Middle English word 'ranklen' which meant 'to fester or suppurate'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'rankle' evolved to also include causing irritation, resentment, or bitterness in a figurative sense.