rile
[rahyl]
- to irritate or vex.
- to roil (water or the like).
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Origin of rile
First recorded in 1815–25; variant of roil
Synonyms
See more synonyms for rile on Thesaurus.com1. irk, annoy, provoke, chafe, nettle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for riled
Contemporary Examples
When he was at the U.S. Open and there were so many different matches, or whatever, and he gets the fan so riled up.
Americans get riled up about creationists and climate change deniers, but lap up the quasi-religious snake oil at Whole Foods.
That last comment crystallizes why the respective fan groups get so riled up when their franchises are pitted against each other.
What was it about Wicked that got critics so riled up a decade ago?
A ‘Wicked’ Decade: How a Critically Trashed Musical Became a Long-Running SmashKevin Fallon
October 30, 2013
So what has Kerry done that's riled up both sides of the conflict?
Historical Examples
"Hetty's riled because their wives wouldn't call upon her," he cried.
The Stark Munro LettersJ. Stark Munro
D'you remember that hammer when we were boys and you riled me, up in the long room?
The First and The LastJohn Galsworthy
I apprehend he was riled at the little al-ter-cation we had just before you came on board.
The RescueJoseph Conrad
"Now you're riled," said the Cuckoo, sitting down easily on her bed.
For the Sake of the SchoolAngela Brazil
And though the Texan could not tell what they said, their laughter “riled” him.
The Free LancesMayne Reid
rile
- to annoy or anger; irritate
- US and Canadian to stir up or agitate (water, etc); roil or make turbid
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Word Origin
C19: variant of roil
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for riled
rile
v.
1825, American English spelling alteration to reflect a dialectal pronunciation of roil (q.v.); cf. heist from hoist and in the same era spile for spoil (v.). Bartlett writes that in both England and America roil "is now commonly pronounced and written rile" ["Dictionary of Americanisms," 1848]. Related: Riled; riling.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper