rile

[rahyl]

verb (used with object)

Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S.

riled, riling 

1. to irritate or vex.

   Synonyms: nettle, chafe, provoke, annoy, irk

2. to roil (water or the like).

rile

/ raɪl /

verb

1. to annoy or anger; irritate

2. to stir up or agitate (water, etc); roil or make turbid

Word History and Origins

Origin of rile¹

First recorded in 1815–25; variant of roil

Word History and Origins

Origin of rile¹

C19: variant of _roil

Example Sentences

The comment riled up the Motor City, prompting the local ABC affiliate to briefly shelve Kimmel’s show.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Regardless, the segments always ended the same way: the men in handcuffs, the audience riled up with moral righteousness and suspicion of their own neighbors.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What riled him most were claims that a major road was blocked for hours for VIP guests, who reportedly included the Nepalese prime minister.

Read more on BBC

He even riled up the crowd by shouting out to his "Latino fans", adding: "This fight is going to be stamped in the history books."

Read more on BBC

Another ploy that is not against the rules - but riles up many - is the underarm serve.

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Related Words

• annoy 
• bother 
• disturb 
• exasperate 
• gall 
• inflame 
• irk 
• irritate 
• peeve 
• provoke 
• roil 
• vex