The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rankle \Ran"kle\ (r[a^][ng]"k'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rankled
(-k'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Rankling (-kl[i^]ng).] [From
Rank, a.]
1. To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be
inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively.
[1913 Webster]
A malady that burns and rankles inward. --Rowe.
[1913 Webster]
This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts
of the people. --Burke.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
27 Moby Thesaurus words for "rankled":
acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulent, acidulous,
acrimonious, bitter, burning, caustic, choleric, embittered,
haunted, mindful, nagged, obsessed, plagued, rancorous,
remembering, resentful, resenting, sore, splenetic, stewing,
unable to forget, virulent