1
as in to annoy
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to infuriate
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rile
That focus now shifts to Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center, where OKC’s raucous fans will be riled up and ready.
—
Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Stuttgart’s Chris Führich had riled the home team with the opener in the 21st minute, but Bayern’s Raphaël Guerreiro, Nicolas Jackson and Alphonso Davies replied by scoring in a six-minute spell in the first half.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
The common threads are authors being riled at adaptations that do not — in their view — closely honor the source material, or feel like their views are not being taken into account.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Other times, the likes of junior safety Kyle Hall has gotten the defense riled up after batting down a ball that was basically in Wagner’s hands.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rile
Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Stuttgart’s Chris Führich had riled the home team with the opener in the 21st minute, but Bayern’s Raphaël Guerreiro, Nicolas Jackson and Alphonso Davies replied by scoring in a six-minute spell in the first half.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
The common threads are authors being riled at adaptations that do not — in their view — closely honor the source material, or feel like their views are not being taken into account.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Other times, the likes of junior safety Kyle Hall has gotten the defense riled up after batting down a ball that was basically in Wagner’s hands.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rile
Verb
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To Henry, this would have been for the greater good of English football, but the reaction was again one of anger and Henry was annoyed that the idea was killed off.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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The non-meat use of the term came from the online chat room community, which by the late 1980s was already using it to denote a mass influx of data into their chat rooms that could trigger a computer crash and/or annoy chat room users.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What was the song that infuriated the coach?—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
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Still, even an unsuccessful appeal would let Democrats try to blame their failure on the conservative majority that dominates the nation's highest court, which has already infuriated the party and civil rights groups by neutering the Voting Rights Act.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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My mother-in-law uses the Boacay Soft and Warm Travel Blanket because the ultra-soft, micro-plush fabric keeps her warm in chilly airplane cabins without irritating her skin.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
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Hydrogen sulfide, a gas commonly associated with sewage, can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and in higher concentrations may cause more serious health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Starmer also has angered supporters with attempts to cut welfare spending, some of which were reversed after Labour revolts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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Buyers were angered after finding out that the new features would be released later than expected, the filing said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Now the dog is back to bothering her brother and showing off her sassy personality.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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This is a nakedly partisan power grab, and state officials haven’t really bothered to deny it.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
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That change, which postponed the 2025 election to 2026, enraged some residents.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
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The judge rejected the Suffolk District Attorney’s recommendation of 12 years and cut it in half, enraging prosecutors.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Other human rights lawyers have been recently prosecuted in Russia, including Maria Bontsler, a prominent lawyer who defended individuals persecuted by politically motivated charges.—
Irwin Cotler,
Time,
8 May 2026
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Individuals with Jewish heritage through their father or a grandparent sometimes identified as Jewish or were persecuted for their Jewish heritage, as was the case under the Nazi regime.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects.—
Sarah Linn
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rile. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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