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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rile different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rile are exasperate, irritate, nettle, peeve, and provoke. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

When would exasperate be a good substitute for rile?

In some situations, the words exasperate and rile are roughly equivalent. However, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

When is it sensible to use irritate instead of rile?

Although the words irritate and rile have much in common, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

When is nettle a more appropriate choice than rile?

The words nettle and rile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

When can peeve be used instead of rile?

While the synonyms peeve and rile are close in meaning, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

When could provoke be used to replace rile?

The synonyms provoke and rile are sometimes interchangeable, but provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rile The conflicts and disputes that rile up homeowners associations have made their way into the Colorado legislature, where lawmakers have sought reforms. Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025 But if those apparent Easter eggs weren’t enough to get Swifties riled up, the message Taylor Nation posted just 12 minutes later definitely was. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025 In the study, Ned correctly surmises that Colum riled Dougal up into beating Malcolm so that Colum could be seen as the cooler head/better leader. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025 The biggest question for the midterms, then, will be how much staying power that fury has — and how much the conservative commentators and figures who long riled up their base and pushed for more disclosures will keep bringing it up. Emily Brooks, The Hill, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rile
Verb
  • Comments about my fast walk annoy me.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Keanu, still annoyed from the veto ceremony, talked to Ava Pearl in the HOH room and called Rachel a liar.
    David Wysong, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The lawsuit said that groundswell of support infuriated Bove, who was portrayed in one video as the Batman villain Bane, while Driscoll was depicted as Batman.
    Carrie Johnson, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Anyone infuriated about the failure to adequately address climate change and the shortcomings in national emergency preparedness will find plenty here to stoke their anger.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Think flying in spring water to a Caribbean island because a female client thought the local water irritated her scalp.
    Louis J. Esterhazy, Footwear News, 7 Sep. 2025
  • However, Agnes is dressed exactly like Wednesday and her Single White Female act is irritating the hell out of her hero.
    Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Robert Bianco, a longtime TV critic for USA Today, emphasized how strongly Levin supported him even when Bianco’s reviews angered Levin’s sources.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Platner also worked as a contractor for Constellis, a successor to the security company Blackwater, which has angered some online activists.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The acting didn’t bother me, but the directing did.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
  • If the odds of winning the lottery are so low, why do people bother playing?
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • We should all be enraged by these practices and should withdraw whatever support is left of the administration’s immigration agenda.
    Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Medvedev was enraged by chair umpire Greg Allensworth’s decision to award his opponent a first serve after a photographer entered the court on match point.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The decree eliminated many of the civil liberties in Germany, opening the way for the Nazis to persecute their opponents.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025
  • More and more, people who have loyally served Putin’s system are being persecuted, mainly on the grounds of corruption.
    ANDREI KOLESNIKOV, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fort Worth bed bugs The B-plot of Episode 7 has Peggy setting up a Little Free Library in her front yard in an effort to build community.
    Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
  • His not winning it was considered a failure, and that bugged him.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rile. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rile

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