irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.
constant nagging that irritated me greatly
exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.
his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions
nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.
your pompous attitude nettled several people
provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.
remarks made solely to provoke her
rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.
the new work schedules riled the employees
peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.
a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie
Examples of rile in a Sentence
Her comments riled the professor.
one sure way to rile me is to keep yelling for me
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Further Reading What to know about the Group of Seven summit in Canada that Trump will attend (Associated Press)
G7 summit opens in Canada with a focus on trade, wars — and not riling Trump (ABC News)
As G7 leaders meet, allies ask: Is Trump with us or against us?—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 The rapper is known for riling up audiences, often encouraging them to climb onstage and bypass security.—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 10 June 2025 He’s been too busy winning state titles with the Bruins to get riled up about old grudges.—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 2 June 2025 Kennedy’s war on pesticides riles farmers, and a G.O.P. senator.—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rile
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