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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rile
Trump’s allusions to police brutality – the very thing demonstrators were protesting – only seemed to rile them and underscore what was at stake.
—
Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Columbus saw hundreds of complaints filed to its reporting system, and the response in St. Louis had residents so riled that snow removal became a hot topic on the mayor's campaign trail.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Now, President Trump’s drive for mass deportations of migrants is riling the streets of Los Angeles, college campuses, even churches — and fueling a global rethinking about the virtues and promise of coming to America.
—Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
In this case, the AI Overview error could rile up Airbus, which probably doesn't want to be mentioned at all in this context.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rile
Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Columbus saw hundreds of complaints filed to its reporting system, and the response in St. Louis had residents so riled that snow removal became a hot topic on the mayor's campaign trail.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Now, President Trump’s drive for mass deportations of migrants is riling the streets of Los Angeles, college campuses, even churches — and fueling a global rethinking about the virtues and promise of coming to America.
—Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
In this case, the AI Overview error could rile up Airbus, which probably doesn't want to be mentioned at all in this context.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rile
Verb
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That acquisition annoyed shareholders and customers alike, with investors taking issue with the fact that it was structured to avoid a vote.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
25 July 2025
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However, in addition to the controversy over self-grading the results, OpenAI also annoyed the IMO community because its Saturday announcement appears to have violated the embargo agreement with the International Mathematical Olympiad.—
Benj Edwards,
ArsTechnica,
21 July 2025
Verb
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The reversal served to infuriate Patrick, who presides over the Senate, and several lawmakers who accused Mindell of misleading them with his statements to the Finance panel.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, handed off pieces of the regulatory apparatus to allies of his primary competitor Elizabeth Warren, producing a domestic policy that pleasantly surprised his party’s left and infuriated American business leaders.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
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It was heard, and irritating, in all places at all times.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
25 July 2025
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For Wiles and other top aides, winning in the midterms is crucial — more crucial than publicly flaming a lawmaker who has a history of irritating Trump.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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In March, Gerson signed a contract to keep him at Flamengo until 2030, his subsequent departure angering many Flamengo fans.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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Trump, angered by messy encampments of homeless people near the White House and on the nation's streets and parks, declared that organizations receiving federal funding must focus first on locking up people with drug or mental health challenges.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
Verb
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But one aspect of his robberies bothers him to this day.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
26 July 2025
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This means that some people might not bother using them.—
Ben Coxworth
July 26,
New Atlas,
26 July 2025
Verb
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In 1995, when the Premier League was in its infancy and transfer fees were tiny in comparison to today, Newcastle United, serious title contenders, enraged their supporters by selling leading goalscorer Andy Cole to Manchester United for £6million plus winger Keith Gillespie.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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The prospect of seeing the Sussexes at royal events would enrage the monarchy’s loyal supporters.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Soliman spent about four years at Cincinnati Children's, first arriving in the United States in 2014 after being persecuted in his native Egypt for work in support of freelance journalists.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
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The state government, closely aligned with Virginia’s de facto official Anglican church, persecuted Baptists during the 18th century.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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That question also bugs the folks at The Utility Reform Network.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
31 July 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement Code of Silence (BritBox) In this UK drama, police tracking a criminal organization that meets in locations that can’t be bugged recruit a deaf canteen employee, Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis), to read suspects’ lips in surveillance videos.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rile. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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