rile

American  

[rahyl] / raɪl /

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 British  

/ raɪl /

verb

1. to annoy or anger; irritate

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

---

Etymology

Origin of rile

First recorded in 1815–25; variant of roil

Example Sentences

Miracle flights are also riling flight crews, who often have to work late because of the delays–and aren’t paid overtime.

From The Wall Street Journal

Whatever you wish to call it - and let's stick with Bazball, because it seems to rile the Aussies - England's fresh approach has made them a force in Test cricket once more.

From BBC

While Patel’s travel has become a source of gossip within the bureau, his firings in particular have riled the broader workforce.

From The Wall Street Journal

Microdrama production companies are increasingly harnessing AI to replace actors and screenwriters with algorithms, raising concerns about job losses and copyright infringement that have riled creative industries globally.

From Barron's

The “overtourism” that irks residents of Venice and Barcelona is also riling locals in Osaka and Kyoto, where kimono-clad visitors clog the streets and temples to secure their snapshots for social media.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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