rankle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb gnaw into; make resentful or angry
    grate; fret; eat into.
    • The injustice rankled her
    • his resentment festered

WordNet

Ran"kle intransitive verb
Etymology
From Rank, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Rankled ; present participle & verbal noun Rankling
Definitions
  1. To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively.
    A malady that burns and rankles inward. Rowe.
    This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people. Burke.
  2. To produce a festering or inflamed effect; to cause a sore; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a splinter rankles in the flesh; the words rankled in his bosom.
Ran"kle transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. R. Beau. & Fl.

Webster 1913