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

Russia’s presence at G20 gathering roils European allies Concerns about any prospects for the talks escalated when the Europeans balked at being photographed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

This follows an unusually quiet Atlantic hurricane season with only one named hurricane, Isaias, roiling the Florida panhandle. — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026

Instead, the district’s growth failed to materialize and subsequent administrators made the painful decision to shutter brand-new Lincoln-Way North, roiling the district. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

The midterm elections in Ohio have been roiled by Ramaswamy’s decision to bankroll an ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 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