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

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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

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Other Word Forms

• unroiled adjective

Etymology

Origin of roil

First recorded in 1580–90; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Besides stealing potential Wall Street customers, bucket shops could roil the capital markets.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Besides stealing potential Wall Street customers, bucket shops could roil the capital markets.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Eurozone finance ministers raised expectations for inflation and lowered them for growth this year as the Iran war continues to roil energy markets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Debates about his significant role in The Beatles’ story roil into the present day.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026

Aru’s guilt was beginning to roil in her stomach.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

Related Words

• muddy
• rile
• stir