rile
- to irritate or vex.
- to roil (water or the like).
Origin of rile
Synonyms for rile
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for riled
annoy, disturb, roil, exasperate, peeve, bother, vex, inflame, irk, irritate, gall, provoke, aggravate, acerbate, nettle, pique, grate, bugExamples from the Web for riled
Contemporary Examples of riled
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 of riled
"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
Word Origin for rile
Word Origin and History for riled
rile
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.