rancour
/ˈraŋkə
/(US rancor)
noun [mass noun]
Bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long standing: he spoke without rancour...
- This would have stripped the bitter racial rancor out of the affirmative action debate.
- There have been disagreements over the years, but never rancor or distrust.
- Today, he still rejoices in his success but bears no rancour against those who delayed the day of his vindication.
Synonyms
bitterness, spite, hate, hatred, resentment, malice, ill will, malevolence, malignancy, animosity, antipathy, enmity, hostility, acrimony, venom, poison, vindictiveness, balefulness, vengefulness, vitriol, virulence, perniciousness, meanness, nastiness
informal bitchiness, cattiness
literary maleficence
Origin
Middle English: via Old French from late Latin rancor 'rankness' (in the Vulgate 'bitter grudge'), related to Latin rancidus 'stinking'.