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

While Becerra has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the corruption scandal has roiled the governor’s race as his rivals have used it as political fodder. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 15 May 2026

For both bonds, this week saw yields jump the most since tariffs roiled global markets in early 2025. —Steve Kopack, NBC news, 15 May 2026

At the start of the Global Fashion Summit, Federica Marchionni, CEO of Global Fashion Agenda, offered one of the event’s few hints of the geopolitical turmoil roiling the outside world. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 15 May 2026

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has roiled energy markets, sending crude oil prices sharply higher — a key driver of inflation. —ABC News, 14 May 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