as in angry
feeling or showing anger
the woman was obviously riled, as she kept throwing things
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in annoyed
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in infuriated
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of riled
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
The more people tell them to pipe down, the more riled up Kizzi and Joe get.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
They’re aided by a small team of assistants who double as dogsitters when Siwa’s poodle Clyde gets too riled up in the dance studio — he’s been known to nip the ankles of men.
—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Water use, electricity costs and more have riled up large portions of the electorate.
—
Brian Sullivan,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
That’s the only explicable reason for Australians to be riled up by comments from a guy most American fans can’t pick out of a lineup, whose most productive season came for a club literally named the Rough Riders.
—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
After New York pulled off a 29-point comeback against the Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, June 10, riled up fans flocked to the San Antonio team's New York City hotel, where Wembanyama was met with boos and nearly pelted with eggs.
—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
The issue has riled the pharmaceutical industry and contributed to a long-standing clash with hospitals over the 340B drug discount program.
—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Even when The Breadwinner starts to tiptoe toward potential reactionary ideas about who belongs in the workplace and who belongs at home, the movie backs off and makes sure that no leaves the theater riled up.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
New York — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has a net worth estimated at roughly $200 billion, was recently asked about California’s wealth tax proposal that has some billionaires riled up.
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Boldy returned to action with the second line for the second period — drawing a roar from the crowd that was riled up about the officiating throughout the first period — and assisted on a goal that tied it at 2.
—
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Jacobs, at least in the movie, never gets riled or angry or stressed.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
The more people tell them to pipe down, the more riled up Kizzi and Joe get.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
They’re aided by a small team of assistants who double as dogsitters when Siwa’s poodle Clyde gets too riled up in the dance studio — he’s been known to nip the ankles of men.
—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Amid ramping tensions as federal immigration enforcement officers riled the Chicago area, a Lake County fashion student created an award-winning collection drawing from her family’s immigrant roots.
—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Water use, electricity costs and more have riled up large portions of the electorate.
—
Brian Sullivan,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
That’s the only explicable reason for Australians to be riled up by comments from a guy most American fans can’t pick out of a lineup, whose most productive season came for a club literally named the Rough Riders.
—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
After New York pulled off a 29-point comeback against the Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, June 10, riled up fans flocked to the San Antonio team's New York City hotel, where Wembanyama was met with boos and nearly pelted with eggs.
—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
The issue has riled the pharmaceutical industry and contributed to a long-standing clash with hospitals over the 340B drug discount program.
—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Even when The Breadwinner starts to tiptoe toward potential reactionary ideas about who belongs in the workplace and who belongs at home, the movie backs off and makes sure that no leaves the theater riled up.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
New York — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has a net worth estimated at roughly $200 billion, was recently asked about California’s wealth tax proposal that has some billionaires riled up.
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Boldy returned to action with the second line for the second period — drawing a roar from the crowd that was riled up about the officiating throughout the first period — and assisted on a goal that tied it at 2.
—
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riled
Adjective
-
The Commission ultimately left it at 400 feet, prompting an intense reaction from the angry crowd.
-
Some of the women who were angry contacted the SFMOMA not simply to share feedback, but to try to ensure Bahr could never work with the institution again.
Verb
-
Others are annoyed that its ambiguous language will create confusion over how — or if — the state will enforce compliance.
-
David goes on a tour of the past 250 years and is deeply annoyed by every facet of it.
Verb
-
When my friends found relief, they were thrilled—and infuriated.
-
By the second half, the two teams meandering about the pitch infuriated everyone not on the pitch.
Adjective
-
Not every close call involves death-defying drop-offs and enraged bison.
-
Rob-Will’s enraged face as Beulah told him what the situation actually is was pretty amazing.
Verb
-
Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams.
-
For all the breathless coverage devoted to celebrity engagements, weddings, and whirlwind divorces, some of Hollywood’s most enduring love stories involve couples who never bothered with the paperwork.
Verb
-
They also have been angered by Kennedy’s attempts to link vaccines to autism, going against decades of research that show no such link, and his framing of autism as a debilitating disease.
-
They've also been angered by Kennedy's attempts to link vaccines to autism, going against decades of research that show no such link, and his framing of autism as a debilitating disease.
Adjective
-
Baffled rather than outraged, curious Kaho tries to uncover the meaning of his words.
-
Since construction at the Eagle Rock site — so nicknamed after a decrepit colonnade — first stalled in 2008, the only thing that accumulated faster than the garbage and graffiti were the epithets from outraged community members.
Verb
-
But the idea has irritated California’s billionaire class, and some have left the state in protest or threatened to do so.
-
Hasslers, the researchers found, tended to be people who irritated the study respondents but whom the respondents could not escape.
Cite this Entry
“Riled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riled. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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