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

The fact that Corbin Burnes isn’t on the club’s radar will likely rile up a faction of the fanbase that wants to see big moves and big arms. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Dec. 2024

The shelter’s presence also riled New Yorkers who used the athletic fields the tents were built on. —Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024

But Rock, a seasoned comedian and SNL veteran, specializes in characters unafraid to rile others up into realizing their own hypocrisies. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2024

The technology is fascinating, as is the driver skill and shows’ ability to rile up stadiums full of people. —Peter Nelson, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

variant of roil

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rile

verb

ˈrī(ə)l 

riled; riling

1

: to make angry

2

: roil sense 1