rile

verb

ˈrī(-ə)l How to pronounce rile (audio)
Definition of rilenext
1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts one sure way to rile me is to keep yelling for me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to infuriate
to make angry her husband isn't easily riled, but once he is, he stays that way for days

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rile different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rile are exasperate, irritate, nettle, peeve, and provoke. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

When would exasperate be a good substitute for rile?

In some situations, the words exasperate and rile are roughly equivalent. However, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

When is it sensible to use irritate instead of rile?

Although the words irritate and rile have much in common, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

When is nettle a more appropriate choice than rile?

The words nettle and rile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

When can peeve be used instead of rile?

While the synonyms peeve and rile are close in meaning, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

When could provoke be used to replace rile?

The synonyms provoke and rile are sometimes interchangeable, but provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rile Following the shocking news that Amazon MGM Studios has taken full creative control of the 007 franchise, Bezos riled up the fandom on X by asking his 6.8 million followers for their thoughts on who should succeed Daniel Craig as the world’s most famous movie secret agent. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025 Emery was riled by suggestions Villa’s structure suffered in the second half. —Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025 The 2025 Grammy Awards were filled with moments almost guaranteed to get MAGA nation riled up, as artists used their platforms to speak up about trans rights, health care, immigration, and DEI initiatives. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 3 Feb. 2025 The generally tame statement was still enough to rile up the likes of Megyn Kelly, who used it as another opportunity to stoke the right-wing backlash to the film. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rile
  1. annoy
  2. infuriate
  3. irritate
  4. anger
  5. bother
  6. enrage
  7. persecute
  8. bug
Verb
  • Waltz now has a bunch of top officials, and their teams, who are annoyed at him for drawing bad publicity.
    — Marc Caputo, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
  • However, standing in the middle of a road to capture the Eiffel Tower in the background is not only unsafe but can also annoy locals.
    — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • Image On the left, the governor’s decision to engage with Mr. Kirk has infuriated Mr. Newsom’s allies.
    — Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
  • For many out-of-network doctors, payments lower than their invoices are an infuriating part of doing business.
    — T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of infuriate
Verb
  • If not properly diluted, vinegar's acidity can irritate your throat or erode tooth enamel over time.
    — Johna Burdeos, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The second walk irritated the pitcher, as home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman’s ball four call on a 3-2 count appeared incorrect.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • This week, President Donald Trump froze $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University, angering members of the Elbow Patch Mafia around America.
    — Christian Schneider, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025
  • That meeting angered Israeli officials, and reportedly Dermer in particular.
    — Alex Marquardt, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of anger
Verb
  • Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.
    — Jay Cost, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of bother
Verb
  • Rick is enraged, and finds Jim happily taking a photograph with his wife, Sritala (Lek Patravadi), and the three galpals on vacation.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
  • While Yoon’s failure to deliver noticeable economic gains estranged this cohort, the manner of his removal still enrages his base, which has been galvanized by the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories on right-wing blogs and social media.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of enrage
Verb
  • Sold to the public as increasing transparency, the legislation has been utilized to persecute Georgia’s opposition and arrest dissidents with impunity.
    — Anastasiya Zavyalova, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Again, none of these Beautiful People ever thought of assisting Americans who were being persecuted by the Deep State these last few years before Jan. 20.
    — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • Aaron Boone said Bellinger’s back started bugging him during Thursday’s game against the Diamondbacks.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Ralph Macchio on the one thing that still bugs him about Karate Kid Part II My Cousin Vinny tells the story of three bombastic Italian-Americans caught up in an over-the-top legal drama.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of bug

Browse Nearby Words

rig (up)
rile
riled
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Cite this Entry

“Rile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rile. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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