1. (v.) To irritate; to produce inflammation\; -- used literally and figuratively.

2. (v.) 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.

3. (v. t.) To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame.

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