Rankling: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Old French 'rancler', meaning to fester or irritate.
• The original usage in the English language dates back to the 14th century, highlighting long-standing emotional irritation.
• Its connection to the word 'rank' suggests something that stinks or festers over time, emphasizing lingering irritation.

Psychology

• Experiencing rankling feelings often leads to rumination, where the mind repeatedly goes over the hurtful event.
• Holding onto rankling feelings can contribute to chronic stress and affect overall mental health.
• Learning to communicate feelings can alleviate rankling and lead to healthier relationships.

Literature

• Many authors use characters who are rankled by past grievances to explore themes of forgiveness and redemption.
• William Shakespeare's plays often depict characters who face consequences because of unresolved rankling emotions.
• Modern literature frequently includes rankling as a device to show character development and personal growth.

Culture

• In everyday conversations, expressing feelings of rankling can be a common way to discuss interpersonal conflicts.
• Films often portray characters dealing with rankling moments that lead to major plot developments and personal conflicts.
• Cultural narratives around forgiveness often highlight overcoming rankling as a sign of maturity.

Expression

• People express rankling emotions through body language, such as crossing arms or avoiding eye contact.
• Artistic expressions, like painting and music, often reflect feelings of rankling to convey deep emotional truths.
• Writing can be a therapeutic outlet for addressing and releasing rankling feelings.

This word's position of #34,563 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 34562 muting
• 34563 rankling
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• ...