rankle

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (1)

gnaw into; make resentful or angry“The injustice rankled her”“his resentment festered”Synonyms: eat into fret grate

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Rankle \Ran"kle\ (r[a^][ng]"k'l), v. t. To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. [R.] --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

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]