What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rankle
Example
The way he spoke to me still rankles me to this day. [rankles: verb]
Example
Her comment about my work ethic really rankled me. [rankled: past tense]
irritate
Example
The sound of the dripping faucet was starting to irritate me. [irritate: verb]
Example
His constant interruptions were really irritating me during the meeting. [irritating: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Irritate is more commonly used than rankle in everyday language. Irritate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rankle is less common and may be considered more formal or literary in tone.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rankle and irritate?
While irritate is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, rankle is more formal and may be used in more literary or elevated contexts.
