rancor

/ˈræŋkər/

/ˈrænkə/

Other forms: rancors

The word rancor is best when you're not just talking about anger, you're talking about a deep, twisted bitter type of anger in your heart. The open rancor in political discussion prevents cooperation between political parties.

The most helpful way to remember rancor with all its dark, miserable bitterness is to think of how rancor rhymes with canker, as in canker sore, the horrible painful burning on your lip. Or, you might want to remind yourself that rancor has its roots in the word rancid meaning "rotten." Rancor refers particularly to the sort of ill-will associated with resentment, envy, slow-brewing anger, and a very personal sort of hatred.

Definitions of rancor

1. noun

   a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
   synonyms: bitterness, gall, rancour, resentment

   types:

   heartburning

   intense resentment

   huffishness, sulkiness

   a feeling of sulky resentment

   grievance, grudge, score

   a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation

   enviousness, envy

   a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another

   covetousness

   an envious eagerness to possess something

   green-eyed monster, jealousy

   a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival)

   penis envy

   (psychoanalysis) a female's presumed envy of the male's penis; said to explain femininity

   type of:

   enmity, hostility, ill will

   the feeling of a hostile person