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
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Foster himself is carefully presented in all the customary ways for this kind of quiet-cool, deadly-when-riled hero.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
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
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
But the long and short of the real science behind size suggests that men themselves are more likely than women to get riled up about the subject.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The more people tell them to pipe down, the more riled up Kizzi and Joe get.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Foster himself is carefully presented in all the customary ways for this kind of quiet-cool, deadly-when-riled hero.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
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
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
But the long and short of the real science behind size suggests that men themselves are more likely than women to get riled up about the subject.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riled
Adjective
-
Rodin told her, though, that Marum was angry about having been airbrushed out of the picture.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
What’s telling is that Senators owner Michael Andlauer toned down his comments regarding this issue over the past year, as compared to his angry remarks when the original ruling came down.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Still, Clarkson was annoyed about not receiving her reality TV prizes after learning that American Idol season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken and his mother were gifted cars from production.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The bartender is annoyed and goes for a smoke.—
E.R. Pulgar,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But that money largely helped progressives, allowing for social justice activist Analilia Mejia to win the primary over Malinowski, which infuriated centrist Democrats.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
18 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
-
But China showed little immediate sign that it was bothered by the likely delay, which analysts told NBC News may actually prove beneficial to efforts to further stabilize relations.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
17 Mar. 2026
-
When you can't be bothered with opening up a bottle of nail polish, nail wraps are your mess-free option.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who has won over voters angered at a lack of growth, failing public services and a series of graft and child protection scandals, has built his brand with tours of town and village squares.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
-
One of Best’s nieces, Tatiana Barrett, told The Associated Press that revelations from the report have angered and saddened family and friends.—
Dave Collins,
Hartford Courant,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
After the court's ruling, outraged parents placed pink signs throughout the community.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Trump, Republicans and right-wing media were outraged and blamed Biden for their deaths.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Knicks would beat the Magic, but Orlando’s physicality has irritated New York over the past two seasons.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
For a long time your political cartoons published in the editorial pages have irritated me.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riled. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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