1
as in angry
feeling or showing anger some visibly riley people were lined up in the customer service department

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2
as in muddy
having visible particles in liquid suspension take care not to stir up the bottom of the stream when you fill the dipper, or your water will be riley

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for riley
Adjective
  • Davis remains angry that none of the church’s former leaders were held accountable.
    Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
  • In the end, of course, an angry mob does chase the monsters around the castle, only to be chased by them in return (the monsters having rediscovered their reason for being), which results in some serviceable monster slapstick.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Many of the town’s colorful homes, historical buildings and lush greenery have been reduced to piles of rubble that litter the now-muddy ground.
    Devon Sayers, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Ten years ago, while using GPS and weather-monitoring equipment, researchers developed a theory that a combination of ice, sunlight, rain, and high winds creates a scenario where the stones could feasibly be pushed across the firm but muddy surface of the former lake.
    Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As Heather and Whitney hang out in their room, Whitney points out that anytime Lisa’s mad at someone, information on that person subsequently comes out.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
  • And that is why the idea of him relaunching his coaching career back at the scene of such failures felt mad.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Authorities said Camacho was wearing a motorcycle helmet and two tactical vests with ballistic plates.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Over the past century, military engineers and ballistic experts have developed bullets that combine precision design with devastating terminal performance.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Mistaken as the murderer, Mary is stoned and buried alive in a shallow grave by the enraged townspeople.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The defense attorney, Michael Caesar, told jurors that Bragg became enraged after Gladney outed him as a gay man, and sought revenge.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Everyone has an opinion about the correct address for ladies, and everyone is indignant when others’ choices are different.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Still, Waits' daughter was indignant.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Within minutes, we were deluged in an avalanche of furious comments.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • This meek performance prompted a furious reaction from the fanbase.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Health experts and Black leaders were outraged at his statement.
    Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Parents would likely be outraged to learn the department isn’t more consistently tracking this information, said Charles Hobson, a professor at Indiana University Northwest and a board member of the advocacy group Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & Exploitation.
    Danielle DuClos, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Riley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riley. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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