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
Relevance
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
There’s no subject guaranteed to rile cybersecurity experts more than public WiFi security — not even the mythological horrors of juice jacking.
—
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
As he’s grown as an inside linebacker, a position with a certain amount of leadership expected of it, Landman has learned not to try to rile up his teammates but to pick his moments when to speak up.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2025
On the phone later, Robinson gets riled up about the topic.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 18 July 2025
Nothing riles up a fan base quite like a love triangle.
—Arpita Dasika, NBC news, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rile
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
As he’s grown as an inside linebacker, a position with a certain amount of leadership expected of it, Landman has learned not to try to rile up his teammates but to pick his moments when to speak up.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2025
On the phone later, Robinson gets riled up about the topic.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 18 July 2025
Nothing riles up a fan base quite like a love triangle.
—Arpita Dasika, NBC news, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rile
Verb
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Bankrate also recently released a survey showing that 38% are annoyed by pre-entered tip screens at coffee shops, food trucks, etc.—
Karlyn Bowman,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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The situation was a fairly familiar story for any community where industry is close to homes: The operations of the business began to annoy residents, and patience ran out as months went by without an answer.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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One of the stranger conspiracies to emerge from the absurd, infuriating intervening years is the insistence by some that, owing to shadowy weather-manipulating entities, the sky has changed for the worse.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
2 Aug. 2025
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Instead, a newspaper reporter got wind of the scheme and published the details, which infuriated the lottery's oversight board.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Verb
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As Venus irritates Pluto, exploring an office entanglement might not be a good idea!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
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In fact, vitamin C, chemical exfoliants (like glycolic, lactic, or salicylic acid), and retinol shouldn’t be used together all at once, since this combination can irritate and inflame the skin (including your existing hyperpigmentation).—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In light of Collins recently being hospitalized for knee surgery, his fans were actually jarred and angered by an AI image of McCartney supposedly visiting him under far more dire circumstances.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, Russia stood back when Azerbaijan reclaimed control of Karabakh in the September 2023 offensive, angering Armenia, which has moved to shed Russian influence and turn westward.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If a body is here, whoever buried it didn’t bother digging deep, because there’s no fear of getting caught.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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The article includes a fancy-looking formula central to the algorithm, but the formula is nearly impossible to decipher since the authors didn’t bother to explain half the symbols in it.—
Noah Giansiracusa,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After almost zero wheedling, Fairburn gives Wednesday some real dirt: Galpin visited Tyler once, and the interaction enraged Tyler beyond anything the doctor had ever seen before.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
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That deal, which has often led to a massive spending bill known as an omnibus negotiated by House and Senate leaders, enrages conservatives who complain most lawmakers are left out of the process.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In late-night filings Thursday, the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office pushed back on recent framing by Combs’ lawyers portraying him as persecuted.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
1 Aug. 2025
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Open Doors is a global Christian charity which supports and speaks up for Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
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The characters muse about the extreme likelihood that their apartments have been bugged.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Aug. 2025
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That question also bugs the folks at The Utility Reform Network.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rile. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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