roil

verb

ˈrȯi(-ə)l 

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

a crisis roiling the stock market

2

: rile sense 1

intransitive verb

: to move turbulently : be in a state of turbulence or agitation

conflicting emotions roiling inside her

Synonyms of roil

• swirl
• churn
• boil
• seethe

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

The prices of metals both precious and industrial fell Thursday as the Iran war roiled global commodities markets. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026

Video posted to social media and geolocated by NBC News showed roiling fireballs and the sky rank with black smoke above a refinery in Asaluyeh, on Iran's Gulf coastline. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026

Uncertainty over the war’s scope and duration have roiled financial markets since the war began just over two weeks ago, though markets have a track record of bouncing back relatively quickly from military conflicts. —Matt Ott, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026

Its closure has seen gas prices soar and markets roiled. —Chris Boccia, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for roil

• boil
• broil
• coil
• foil
• oil
• soil
• spoil
• toil
• voile
• aerofoil
• cinquefoil
• hydrofoil

Kids Definition

roil

verb

ˈrȯi(ə)l 

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