rankling

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The military warning—first reported in the Washington Post, then confirmed in the New York Times—must be particularly rankling.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

Cheap replicas are flooding the market for the old-timey pens, rankling fans of a product long known for steep prices and a user base dominated by royalty, politicians and wealthy elites.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

Bobo’s only misstep other than calling In-N-Out “overrated,” rankling fans of the wildly popular burger chain, came in the season opener.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2022

On Wednesday, the U.S. and Taiwan announced they are set to begin formal trade negotiations, and if the trade talks are a success, it will further bolster ties between the two nations while rankling China.

From Washington Post • Aug. 20, 2022

When he did find some time to visit me, he was very preoccupied, and I could feel him rankling with anger and with inactivity, but he tried hard to hide it.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey