roiled; roiling; roils
2
: to move turbulently : be in a state of turbulence or agitation
conflicting emotions roiling inside her
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
Bove has been at the center of other moves that have roiled the Justice Department in recent months, including the order to dismiss New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption case.
—
Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
The 125 percent tariff that was levied outstripped even the most extreme forecasts and led to a monthlong trade war that roiled the global economy.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
The scandal, which sparked widespread anger in the country, brings fresh uncertainty to a country roiled by years of political turbulence and leadership shake-ups.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 June 2025
Biden’s presidency was historically unpopular for any number of reasons, but an important one was his focus on wars in Europe and the Middle East while issues such as immigration and inflation roiled the country.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for roil
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Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
The 125 percent tariff that was levied outstripped even the most extreme forecasts and led to a monthlong trade war that roiled the global economy.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
The scandal, which sparked widespread anger in the country, brings fresh uncertainty to a country roiled by years of political turbulence and leadership shake-ups.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 June 2025
Biden’s presidency was historically unpopular for any number of reasons, but an important one was his focus on wars in Europe and the Middle East while issues such as immigration and inflation roiled the country.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for roil
Cite this Entry
“Roil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roil. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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