as in angry
feeling or showing anger
the woman was obviously riled, as she kept throwing things
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in annoyed
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
one sure way to rile me is to keep yelling for me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in infuriated
to make angry
her husband isn't easily riled, but once he is, he stays that way for days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riled
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
The more people tell them to pipe down, the more riled up Kizzi and Joe get.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
They’re aided by a small team of assistants who double as dogsitters when Siwa’s poodle Clyde gets too riled up in the dance studio — he’s been known to nip the ankles of men.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
The product of an online hip-hop ecosystem now built around getting attention through clipfarming social media accounts made to get millennials riled up?
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
But Big Ten coaches voted for Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg as their Coach of the Year, so perhaps May’s success has riled some of his peers.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Rosenberg and others of his ilk like Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones and Hasan Piker and Bob Grant from decades ago, play to their audience’s fears, getting their listeners riled up.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Golden turned and riled up the 11,000-plus in attendance.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
And yet Josh Safdie’s Oscar contender and Jacob Tierney’s TV phenomenon have riled up parts of their audience in similar ways.
—David Colman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
The trend is worrisome for some politics watchers because weapons are readily available when voters get riled by their leaders and disputes go beyond harsh words.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
Joe was already riled up from being rejected by Nathan, who decided to go to Australia to be with Gael rather than to Liverpool with Joe after the season.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Jacobs, at least in the movie, never gets riled or angry or stressed.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
The more people tell them to pipe down, the more riled up Kizzi and Joe get.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
They’re aided by a small team of assistants who double as dogsitters when Siwa’s poodle Clyde gets too riled up in the dance studio — he’s been known to nip the ankles of men.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
While two sources say Sarandos was riled to hear about this during a chance encounter with a Penguin executive, a Netflix insider says the Co-CEO never met anyone at the publishing house regarding the book.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
The product of an online hip-hop ecosystem now built around getting attention through clipfarming social media accounts made to get millennials riled up?
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
But Big Ten coaches voted for Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg as their Coach of the Year, so perhaps May’s success has riled some of his peers.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Rosenberg and others of his ilk like Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones and Hasan Piker and Bob Grant from decades ago, play to their audience’s fears, getting their listeners riled up.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Golden turned and riled up the 11,000-plus in attendance.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
And yet Josh Safdie’s Oscar contender and Jacob Tierney’s TV phenomenon have riled up parts of their audience in similar ways.
—David Colman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
The trend is worrisome for some politics watchers because weapons are readily available when voters get riled by their leaders and disputes go beyond harsh words.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
Joe was already riled up from being rejected by Nathan, who decided to go to Australia to be with Gael rather than to Liverpool with Joe after the season.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riled
Adjective
-
That was the result of angry partisans taking seriously Trump’s bogus election-fraud claims.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
House Republicans are angry that the bill passed early Friday by the Senate does not fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One who grew up respectful but annoyed by the success the league previously had in Seattle.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Social media reactions to the bunny range from enamored to amused to annoyed at the price tag, which runs from $112 to $140.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The liberal Democratic governor, whose strict gun control measures have long infuriated gun owners, this week filed a bill to allow Sunday hunting and expand crossbow hunting, long overdue moves that aimed to shore up one of her biggest weaknesses in an election year.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The arrest infuriated Anderson who said O'Malley is married with two young children and would have turned himself in.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Shortly after administering the technical to an enraged Self, referee Doug Sirmons hit KU’s coach with another tech, ostensibly for remaining on the court instead of returning to the coach’s box.—
Gary Bedore
March 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Latinx people of conscience recognize our own tios, tias, primos, primas, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers in the brown faces being livestreamed with blood and agony pouring into enraged mouths asking for help.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Despite being bothered by his elbow throughout the 2025 campaign, Rodón enjoyed his best season with the Yankees last year.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Other birds won’t be bothered, but the crows will stay away for a long time.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The first major nationwide protests against the Islamic regime began in June 2009, with demonstrators angered by the fraudulent presidential election.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
-
He was angered by the deaths and the damage to infrastructure and military capacities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The policy Uthmeier is outraged about, known as the Rooney Rule, was first introduced in 2002.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The presidents of the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Columbia, and Northwestern subsequently resigned, unable to justify their decisions either to Congress or to their own outraged board members and donors.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even minimal exposure to artificial lights irritated his burns, and recovery took months.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Many people have come out of the woodwork and jumped on the bandwagon, which irritated me.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riled. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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