roil

American  

[roil] / rɔɪl /

verb (used with object)

1. to render (water, wine, etc.) turbid by stirring up sediment.

2. to disturb or disquiet; irritate; vex.

   to be roiled by a delay.

   Synonyms:

   rile, provoke, exasperate, ruffle, fret, annoy

---

verb (used without object)

1. to move or proceed turbulently.

roil British  

/ rɔɪl /

verb

1. (tr) to make (a liquid) cloudy or turbid by stirring up dregs or sediment

2. (intr) (esp of a liquid) to be agitated or disturbed

3. dialect (intr) to be noisy or boisterous

4. (tr) another word (now rare) for rile

---

Other Word Forms

• unroiled adjective

Etymology

Origin of roil

First recorded in 1580–90; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Then there’s the colorful gossip that underscores how Noem’s life is a roiling storm that creates chaos wherever she goes.

From Salon

The episodes underscore the extent to which the Epstein saga has roiled members of Congress.

From Los Angeles Times

Composer Bernard Herrmann’s score, his last, is alternately mellow and roiling, befitting its placid but simmering antihero.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bitcoin’s struggles come as equity markets have been roiled by AI worries hitting software stocks and metals markets have also been on a roller coaster.

From MarketWatch

In this roiling atmosphere, skillful politicians such as Lincoln churned turnout.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• muddy
• rile
• stir