RANKLING Synonyms: 129 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rankling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rankle

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rankling

Adjective

For home-office equipment, networking hardware, 3D printers, and other devices where unexpected shutdowns are costly or irritating, the Elite 300 can serve a dual purpose rather than sit unused until the next blackout.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
That tiny gesture may explain why secret copying can feel especially irritating.

— Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritating

Verb

In 1994, a raging inferno erupted at a home in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
That is until yachting fan King Constantine of Greece spotted an advertisement in Time magazine that pictured a Hublot against the background of a raging sea with a glimpse of sailboat in the corner.

— Simon de Burton, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of raging

Verb

Raising taxes and reducing government spending are part of a potential solution, but those would be politically unpopular decisions that could risk further angering an already livid public.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement, but Ukraine denies the countries reached such a deal, further angering Seoul.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of angering

Adjective

McCartney said of his note to Mendes about the height imbalance, wondering how the director will rectify this annoying, historic aberration.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Something in your routine, schedule, or workload may feel disproportionately annoying or demanding, especially if too many little things pile up at once.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoying

Verb

Shawn, his parents, and the stranger were sitting around the dining table, their bowls of rice steaming before them, when the knock came.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Exhibiting a pile of hot, steaming garbage might have been more transgressive than showing these sculptures.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of steaming

Verb

Cummings said that in January 2021, a friend of Birchmore’s called Stoughton police and told a dispatcher about the illicit relationship, infuriating Farwell.

— Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 9 Oct. 2026
His laserlike focus on the particulars of the story doesn’t leave much room for extrapolation; even the infuriating case of bureaucratic overreach that the film depicts can easily be understood, and perhaps even defended, as an aberration.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of infuriating

Adjective

Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel didn’t shy away from discussing his job security Thursday amid a frustrating 0-5 start to the season.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Wednesday's rain made for a frustrating day for hundreds of travelers at Denver International Airport, including some football fans arriving for Thursday night's Broncos game.

— Tori Mason, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Verb

Israeli settlers attacked at least eight Palestinian villages in the West Bank, burning cars and olive trees and beating residents as the annual harvest got underway.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Additional videos from the scene show a man with a bloodied face after the attack, as well as flame pouring out of a burning car with Palestinian license plates.

— Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of burning

Browse Nearby Words

rankles

rankling

rankness

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Style

“Rankling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rankling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rankling

adjective

verb

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