roiled; roiling; roils
1
2
: to move turbulently : be in a state of turbulence or agitation
conflicting emotions roiling inside her
Examples of roil in a Sentence
Financial markets have been roiled by the banking crisis.
the waters of the gulf tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged toward the shore
Recent Examples on the Web
The fight over the Royals has long roiled Kansas City politics, threatening to define both the city’s future and Lucas’ tenure as mayor.
—
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
In 2022, conventional 60/40 portfolios—made up of 60% equities and 40% bonds—took a hit as markets roiled, and inflation and rate hikes made bonds less of a hedge for stocks.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
The episodes underscore the extent to which the Epstein saga has roiled members of Congress.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The early days of the Milan Cortina Games have been roiled by the tumultuous political debate in the United States.
—Steven Sloan, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roil
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Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
In 2022, conventional 60/40 portfolios—made up of 60% equities and 40% bonds—took a hit as markets roiled, and inflation and rate hikes made bonds less of a hedge for stocks.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
The episodes underscore the extent to which the Epstein saga has roiled members of Congress.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The early days of the Milan Cortina Games have been roiled by the tumultuous political debate in the United States.
—Steven Sloan, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roil
Cite this Entry
“Roil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roil. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roil
verb
ˈrȯi(ə)l 
sense 2 is also ˈrī(ə)l
1
: to make cloudy or muddy by stirring up
roil the water of a brook
2
: to rouse the anger of
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