ROIL Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

roil

verb

ˈrȯi(-ə)l

Definition of roil

as in to swirl

to be in a state of violent rolling motion the waters of the gulf tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged toward the shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to anger

to make angry the clerk's brusque refusal of her request roiled her enough to prompt a complaint to his supervisor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of roil The midterm elections in Ohio have been roiled by Ramaswamy’s decision to bankroll an ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026 One reason for the AI recovery rally may be that the market is feeling a little better about the AI funding worries that roiled markets last week. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026 Spain has been roiled by protests this fall around the issue of housing, as rental and home costs have risen in recent years beyond what many Spaniards can afford. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Something is roiling under the surface of Smallwood’s harshness. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for roil

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roil

Verb

Several shops on the Street downgraded the artificial intelligence infrastructure stock, citing the leadership questions that are swirling around Nvidia in the wake of the scandal.

— Kif Leswing,Annie Palmer,Kevin Breuninger,Samantha Subin,Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 12 Nov. 2026
Dancers on the Senegalese team mix traditional moves into their routines from national styles such as mbalax and Yela, swirling their arms and legs in a windmill-like motion.

— Ricci Shryock, NPR, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of swirl

Verb

The downfall of his predecessor, longtime Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan, began with women angered by his handling of #MeToo incidents involving his campaign and government staff in 2017 and 2018.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
But others, particularly in Missouri, have been concerned and angered to see that their bills will soon go up, the second price hike for this year.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of anger

Verb

As Election Day churned into the afternoon, some UCF students continued to have trouble voting at the on-campus precinct due to pre-registration issues.

— Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026
Other videos and photos shared on social media showed people standing on a pedestrian bridge taking photos and videos as churning, brown waters rushed underneath.

— Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of churn

Verb

Back at camp, the percolator hadn’t even started boiling when another herd came over the far ridgeline, headed right for that creek.

— Tyler Freel, Outdoor Life, 10 Nov. 2026
Add 2 tablespoons of the salt, and bring to a boil over high; boil until potatoes are tender when pierced using a fork, 12 to 15 minutes; drain.

— Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of boil

Verb

This thrilled hardcore Journey fans, but enraged the other members of the group.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026
After the release of the Pentagon Papers, which was a secret history of the Vietnam War compiled by figures in the Johnson administration, Richard Nixon is enraged.

— Dustin DeSoto, Vox, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of enrage

Verb

If backers of the president often seemed defensive — justifying, rationalizing, urging patience — Trump critics were seething.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
Audiences may justifiably seethe at how Sutskever’s safety-first mindset gets steamrolled by Altman’s slick accelerationism (as happened in real life).

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of seethe

Verb

Raymond Lopez, alderman of Chicago’s 15th Ward, told the station that the other driver appeared to be annoyed about something that happened several blocks back.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
Studio executives who annoyed her might find their films receiving tepid coverage.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoy

Browse Nearby Words

roguishness

roil

roiled

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Style

“Roil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roil. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of roil

verb

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