rile

verb

ˈrī(-ə)l 

riled; riling

transitive verb

1

: to make agitated and angry : upset

2

: roil sense 1

Synonyms

• aggravate
• annoy
• bother
• bug
• burn (up)
• chafe
• eat
• exasperate
• frost
• gall
• get
• grate
• gripe
• hack (off)
• irk
• irritate
• itch
• nark [British]
• nettle
• peeve
• persecute
• pique
• put out
• rasp
• ruffle
• spite
• vex

Choose the Right Synonym for rile

irritate, exasperate, nettle, provoke, rile, peeve mean to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance.

irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

Examples of rile in a Sentence

Her comments riled the professor.

one sure way to rile me is to keep yelling for me

Recent Examples on the Web

Scherzer believes mutual friends perhaps tipped off Hedges on how to rile him. —Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

Cyrus riled them up to believe that the Landrys made a deal with the devil, which must be why their farm is prosperous during the cursed winter. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 21 Feb. 2025

Trump’s threat in November to impose a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico has riled Canadian leaders, dividing Trudeau and his allies. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

The Illini led by as many as 16 points in the first half, riling up a raucous crowd. —Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

variant of roil

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rile

• aisle
• bile
• chyle
• file
• guile
• heil
• isle
• kyle
• mile
• pile
• smile
• stile

Kids Definition

rile

verb

ˈrī(ə)l 

riled; riling

1

: to make angry

2

: roil sense 1