roil

verb

ˈrȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce roil (audio)
 transitive sense 2 is also  ˈrī(-ə)l
roiled; roiling; roils

transitive verb

1
a
: to make turbid by stirring up the sediment or dregs of
b
: to stir up : disturb, disorder
2

intransitive verb

: 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
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.
The last major Southern California grocery strike in 2003 and 2004 roiled the region’s supermarkets, paving the way for new chains. Md Fazlur Rahman, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025 The protests that roiled Los Angeles over the weekend were set to spread Tuesday across the country, as activists planned demonstrations in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and elsewhere. Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 11 June 2025 Klarna, a provider of buy now, pay later loans, filed its prospectus in March but then delayed its offering a month later after President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs roiled markets. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 11 June 2025 But previous Trump administration actions have roiled residents of those countries as well, and some indicators show tourism from Canada in particular has begun to wane. Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for roil

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of roil was in 1590

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Roil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roil. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

roil

verb
ˈrȯi(ə)l How to pronounce roil (audio)
 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

More from Merriam-Webster on roil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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