Rankle

v. i.	1.	To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; - used literally and figuratively. [imp. & p. p. Rankled (-k'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Rankling (-klĭng).] A malady that burns and rankles inward. - Rowe. This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people. - Burke.
	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.
v. t.	1.	To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame.

Verb

1.

rankle - gnaw into; make resentful or angry; "The unjustice rankled her"; "his resentment festered" Synonyms: eat into, grate, fret

afflict, aggravate, agonize, ail, anger, annoy, arouse, be remembered, bite, bother, break up, bristle, burn, canker, chafe, convulse, corrupt, crucify, crumble, crumble into dust, cut, decay, decompose, disintegrate, distress, embitter, exasperate, excruciate, fall into decay, fall to pieces, fester, fret, gall, gangrene, get to, give pain, gnaw, go bad, go to pieces, grate, grind, gripe, harass, harrow, huff, hurt, incense, inflame, inflict pain, irk, irritate, kill by inches, lacerate, make an impression, martyr, martyrize, matter, miff, mildew, mold, molder, mortify, necrose, nettle, never be forgotten, nip, obsess, pain, peeve, penetrate, pierce, pinch, pique, plague, prick, prolong the agony, provoke, put to torture, putrefy, putresce, rack, rasp, rile, ripen, roil, rot, rub, ruffle, run, set up, sink in, sphacelate, spoil, stab, sting, stir the blood, stir up, suppurate, torment, torture, tweak, twist, upset, vex, weep, work up, wound, wring