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
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
While video replay showed Elliss’ hit was clean (and legal), the optics of Dart being jettisoned a few yards into his own sideline riled up several Giants players, including second-year tight end Theo Johnson, who immediately went after Elliss.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Zac and Dylan have a reputation for getting fans riled up with their shirtless photos.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
But on Sunday, voters will go to the polls to vote on an inheritance tax that has riled them up.
—Carolin Roth, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025
Earlier this year, the conservative commentator got riled up about the news that Netflix would be rebooting Little House on the Prairie.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Nov. 2025
My book has riled up a lot of Christians.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
The locals, especially seniors and year-round residents, are riled up.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2025
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
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
While video replay showed Elliss’ hit was clean (and legal), the optics of Dart being jettisoned a few yards into his own sideline riled up several Giants players, including second-year tight end Theo Johnson, who immediately went after Elliss.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Zac and Dylan have a reputation for getting fans riled up with their shirtless photos.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
But on Sunday, voters will go to the polls to vote on an inheritance tax that has riled them up.
—Carolin Roth, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025
Earlier this year, the conservative commentator got riled up about the news that Netflix would be rebooting Little House on the Prairie.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Nov. 2025
My book has riled up a lot of Christians.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
The locals, especially seniors and year-round residents, are riled up.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riled
Adjective
-
Local sheriffs have stepped up their efforts to warn residents of wolf sightings, posting alerts on social media that have garnered hundreds of comments from both concerned residents and environmentalists angry that the animals are the focus of so much fear and anger.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
When federal agents can show up at your store, detain your employees, raid your parking lot and audit your hiring records, the calculation about whether to criticize federal policy looks very different than when the worst-case scenario is an angry tweet from a politician.—
Alessandro Piazza,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In one Upper East Side neighborhood known for pristine sidewalks, residents said they were annoyed by the sight of piles of trash bags one after another.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Hassan was annoyed by the smell of cigarettes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The criminal investigation, which Powell announced this month, shocked and infuriated senators, both Republican and Democratic.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That decision reportedly infuriated Bondi, who has since taken matters into her own hands.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
However, her direct and outspoken approach has also led to controversy, with enraged officials in Honduras once wanting to declare her persona non grata.—
Yamlek Mojica Loaisiga,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
And why did that treatment — at least initially — leave Zverev so enraged?—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That’s right—if you can’t be bothered to take 10 minutes (or at most, 45 minutes) out of your vacation to follow international safety protocol, you can be kicked off your cruise ship.—
Erica Silverstein,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And while some families might be able to cut down on toys, others might be bothered having toys in every room.—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The remark angered lawmakers on both sides of the aisle at the time, and it was quickly walked back.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Opposition to the war grew in Australia along with the Palestinian death toll, and last September the government angered Israeli leaders by supporting other like-minded Western nations, including Canada and the United Kingdom, by formally recognizing Palestinian statehood.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Board members struggled to convince outraged parents and students that the Dillard, Pompano Beach and Blanche Ely gymnasiums were quality venues for graduation ceremonies.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Whether that’s a reference to assimilation or invasion isn’t clear, but Canadians were outraged over the comments all the same.—
Joe Wilkins Published Jan 21,
Futurism,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For a long time your political cartoons published in the editorial pages have irritated me.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The song, which reclaims a derogatory term for Venezuelan female migrants, was interpreted as defiant and irritated the Venezuelan president, then facing widespread reports of electoral fraud.—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riled. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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