Synonyms of riling

riling 1 of 2

adjective

as in annoying

causing annoyance

a riling habit that drives his wife crazy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoying
• irritating
• frustrating
• disturbing
• aggravating
• exasperating
• maddening
• vexing
• abrasive
• irksome
• vexatious
• pesky
• rankling
• nettlesome
• nettling
• bothersome
• pestiferous
• pestilential
• painful
• galling
• peeving
• rebarbative
• carking
• chafing
• pesty
• biting
• plaguey
• pestilent
• distractive
• infuriating
• upsetting
• troubling
• displeasing
• mischievous
• angering
• disquieting
• troublesome
• distressing
• importunate
• enraging
• stressful
• discomforting
• burdensome
• offensive
• tiresome
• trying
• inconveniencing
• importune
• worrisome
• bratty
• brattish
• jarring
• grating
• thorny
• spiny
• jangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasing

riling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rile

1

as in bothering

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

• bothering
• annoying
• bugging
• persecuting
• irritating
• getting
• aggravating
• irking
• angering
• eating
• spiting
• nettling
• ruffling
• griping
• exasperating
• piquing
• itching
• grating
• provoking
• teasing
• infuriating
• narking
• worrying
• vexing
• burning (up)
• chafing
• galling
• peeving
• insulting
• getting to
• plaguing
• wearing on
• hacking (off)
• rasping
• frosting
• putting out
• harassing
• enraging
• upsetting
• heckling
• inflaming
• rousing
• offending
• hassling
• antagonizing
• sticking in one's craw
• rubbing the wrong way
• getting one's goat
• setting one's teeth on edge
• getting on one's nerves
• badgering
• nagging
• agitating
• pestering
• baiting
• incensing
• rankling
• outraging
• harrying
• roiling
• unsettling
• distressing
• perturbing
• affronting
• exercising
• disquieting
• maddening
• deviling
• discomforting
• undoing
• unhinging
• fretting
• bullyragging
• hagriding
• discomposing
• freaking (out)
• miffing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appeasing
• placating
• obliging
• pacifying
• conciliating
• gratifying
• pleasing
• satisfying
• mollifying
• delighting
• assuring
• propitiating
• cheering
• reassuring
• comforting
• soothing
• quieting
• consoling
• contenting
• gladdening
• solacing

2

as in angering

to make angry

her husband isn't easily riled, but once he is, he stays that way for days

Synonyms & Similar Words

• angering
• infuriating
• enraging
• outraging
• annoying
• irritating
• inflaming
• incensing
• rankling
• roiling
• iring
• offending
• provoking
• maddening
• madding
• ticking off
• aggravating
• steaming up
• nettling
• ruffling
• affronting
• antagonizing
• piquing
• crossing
• exasperating
• huffing
• getting
• rubbing the wrong way
• vexing
• getting one's goat
• burning (up)
• miffing
• peeving
• embittering
• putting out
• envenoming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• pleasing
• relieving
• delighting
• allaying
• soothing
• comforting
• consoling
• appeasing
• placating
• settling
• pacifying
• quieting
• assuaging
• conciliating
• calming
• charming
• disarming
• mollifying
• captivating
• lulling
• bewitching
• enchanting
• beguiling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of riling

Adjective

The only thing more riling than a referee’s interference in a sports event is a politician’s. — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Verb

Which is why, in a bit of an odd turn of events, Sumrall riling up some SEC drama might just be valuable. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Trips included a May 2025 visit to Bahrain and Israel and a December 2025 trip to Jordan, Abu Dhabi and Qatar as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations were riling Minneapolis. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026

The proposal, which is currently out to public consultation, appears to be riling everyone from ordinary pub-goers to residents of 10 Downing Street. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Mbappé, who scored on a penalty in the 70th minute, was riling up the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia following France’s 1-0 victory in the Round of 16. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Sediment in the water is an issue that is riling up both residents and environmentalists. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026

McCarty said, riling up the crowd. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026

Isaacman made the comments while endorsing a proposal to halve NASA's science budget, riling some astronomers. — CBS News, 4 May 2026

Some clips showed owls and ravens attacking the couple, especially riling up fans. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026