rancour
Deep-seated ill will
Rancour is deep-seated, long-lasting resentment or bitterness.
Where anger flares and fades, rancour persists—a grudge nursed over time: Years later, she still spoke of the divorce with rancour.
The word carries a sense of poisonous ill will that corrodes the one who harbors it.
Rancor is the American spelling.
Persistent bitter displeasure
- acrimonyBitter ill will
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- gallImpudent boldness or bitterness
- bileLiver-made digestive fluid
sourness · acerbity · cynicism · disillusionment · embitterment · jaundice · mordancy · tartness
Bitter, lasting ill will
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- bad bloodLasting hostile feelings
- antipathyIngrained, intense aversion
aversion · hatred · malevolence · aggression · belligerence · combativeness · conflict · friction
Injected animal poison
- vitriolBitter, scathing criticism
- malignityIntense, settled hatred
- spitePetty malicious intent
- maliciousnessIntent to cause harm
vindictiveness · meanness · cruelty · nastiness · poison · toxicity · hatefulness · spitefulness
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- spitePetty malicious intent
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
vengeance · score · quarrel · dispute · backbiting · hard feelings · long memory · nursing
Scornful disregard
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- disgustIntense physical aversion
- derisionContemptuous mockery
revulsion · sneering · detestation · abhorrence · repugnance · disrespect · dismissiveness · condescension
resentment
Persistent bitter displeasure
- acrimonyBitter ill will
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- gallImpudent boldness or bitterness
bile · sourness · acerbity · cynicism · disillusionment · embitterment · jaundice · mordancy · tartness · harshness
enmity
Bitter, lasting ill will
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- bad bloodLasting hostile feelings
antipathy · aversion · hatred · malevolence · aggression · belligerence · combativeness · conflict · friction · tension
venom
Injected animal poison
maliciousness · vindictiveness · meanness · cruelty · nastiness · poison · toxicity · hatefulness · spitefulness · wickedness
vendetta
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
revenge · vengeance · score · quarrel · dispute · backbiting · hard feelings · long memory · nursing · unforgiveness
disdain
Scornful disregard
derision · revulsion · sneering · detestation · abhorrence · repugnance · disrespect · dismissiveness · condescension · snubbing
rancourgoodwill
Kindly, generous spirit
benevolence · affection · kindness · warmth · charity
rancourforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
absolution · mercy · clemency · letting go · reconciliation