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
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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
Bryan West, USA Today, 19 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
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
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
Moroney, who sang covers, grabbed her guitar and riled up the crowd.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 19 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riled
Adjective
-
Fans have been angry that the production fired actor Melissa Barrera for speaking out in favor of Palestine.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Julia Ross, who loves Cunningham for her fourth grader, felt angry that Kennedy came to the school for what felt to her like a photo opportunity.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After it had been viewed by more than 12 million people, Tkachuk indicated the stunt annoyed him.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Calvin is annoyed that the Post describes Carolyn as Kelly’s protégé instead of his.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Raman’s entry into the race, hours before the filing deadline, shocked the city’s political elite and infuriated the mayor’s supporters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The dampening atmospherics and massive right field infuriated sluggers such as Barry Bonds, Jeff Bagwell and Albert Pujols.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Tough, undemanding, and rarely bothered by pests, a cheery patch of daffodils can last for generations.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
-
As a young schoolboy, Davidson was often cruelly stigmatized because no one had bothered to diagnose his disorder.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The decision to free the now 64-year-old Funston on elderly parole angered his victims and the local authorities who put him away more than 25 years ago.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Brown has been particularly angered by the revelations and has been helping police with their inquiries.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
People have been outraged that your speech was edited, but a racial slur shouted by Tourette’s activist John Davidson was left in until Monday afternoon.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
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The outraged family of a transit cop stabbed to death in her Bronx home nearly four years ago by her estranged husband said Friday that his sentence of 24 years in prison is not enough.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 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 28 Feb. 2026.
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