roil

verb

ˈrȯi(-ə)l 

 transitive sense 2 is also  ˈrī(-ə)l

roiled; roiling; roils

transitive verb

1

a

: to make turbid by stirring up the sediment or dregs of

b

: to stir up : disturb, disorder

2

: rile sense 1

intransitive verb

: to move turbulently : be in a state of turbulence or agitation

conflicting emotions roiling inside her

Synonyms

• boil
• churn
• moil
• seethe

Examples of roil in a Sentence

Financial markets have been roiled by the banking crisis.

the waters of the gulf tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged toward the shore

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s failures are twofold: failing to convince the courts that his policies are legal and justified (which, in large part, can’t be done with activist judges) and roiling the stock markets with tariff policies. —Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2025

The cancellation of about 13,200 tons of U.S. pork is the most since the covid-19 pandemic roiled global supply chains. —Arkansas Online, 25 Apr. 2025

After inching down in the first months of the year, mortgage rates have jumped higher in the last couple weeks, as President Trump's tariff threats have roiled bond markets that help influence mortgage rates. —Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025

The decline in optimism comes as Mr. Trump's economic agenda roils financial markets and raises concerns about slowing U.S. economic growth. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for roil

• boil
• broil
• coil
• foil
• oil
• soil
• spoil
• toil
• voile
• aerofoil
• cinquefoil
• hydrofoil

Kids Definition

roil

verb

ˈrȯi(ə)l 

 sense 2 is also  ˈrī(ə)l

1

: to make cloudy or muddy by stirring up

roil the water of a brook

2

: to rouse the anger of