1
as in swirling
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
2
as in angering
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
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Recent Examples of roiling
The fight between Comulate and Applied reflects larger dynamics roiling the software industry as AI agents and vibe coding tools, led by AI developer Anthropic, threaten to take market share from software incumbents.
—
John Hyatt, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Cost-of-living concerns, after all, are also roiling France, Germany, Canada, and Britain.
—Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
Tremain’s novel of youthful romantic obsession and painful growing up reminded me in its comic astringency of Muriel Spark, and, in its respect for the roiling emotions of one’s teens and twenties, of Sally Rooney.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Tamma, who is gay, is a roiling stew of adolescent emotions further fueled by physical abuse suffered in childhood at her father’s hands and by the neglect and disdain dumped on her by her mother.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
But the appearance of planetary nebulas has little to do with planets at all—these nebulas are actually roiling clouds of hot gas that emanate from dying sunlike stars and linger after their deaths.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2026
Videos of the fatal shooting have spread rapidly online in recent days, roiling the political landscape and prompting protests in Kansas City, Minneapolis and across the country.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2026
Activist Charlie Kirk was shot to death while speaking at Utah Valley University in September, roiling the conservative movement.
—Caroline Linton, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Simultaneously, at the federal level, HHS — the backstop for states in situations of crisis — is roiling.
—Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
John Hyatt, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Cost-of-living concerns, after all, are also roiling France, Germany, Canada, and Britain.
—Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
Tremain’s novel of youthful romantic obsession and painful growing up reminded me in its comic astringency of Muriel Spark, and, in its respect for the roiling emotions of one’s teens and twenties, of Sally Rooney.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Tamma, who is gay, is a roiling stew of adolescent emotions further fueled by physical abuse suffered in childhood at her father’s hands and by the neglect and disdain dumped on her by her mother.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
But the appearance of planetary nebulas has little to do with planets at all—these nebulas are actually roiling clouds of hot gas that emanate from dying sunlike stars and linger after their deaths.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2026
Videos of the fatal shooting have spread rapidly online in recent days, roiling the political landscape and prompting protests in Kansas City, Minneapolis and across the country.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2026
Activist Charlie Kirk was shot to death while speaking at Utah Valley University in September, roiling the conservative movement.
—Caroline Linton, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Simultaneously, at the federal level, HHS — the backstop for states in situations of crisis — is roiling.
—Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roiling
Verb
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Cook, swirling skillet occasionally and reducing heat if browning too quickly or if oil is smoking, until deep golden brown underneath, about 5 minutes.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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As the Chiefs’ offseason got off to an earlier-than-normal start, Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending ACL injury and the uncertainty swirling around Travis Kelce’s future are being closely watched in Kansas City.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And all the while, our gutless politicians watch from the sidelines so as to not interfere and risk angering their party.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Marine officials said the tossing and churning in the surf caused gases to form and inflate the tongue.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Bears defensive lineman Austin Booker was the next defender to contact Kinnard, but Kinnard kept churning his feet.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The implications are infuriating.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
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The hosts’ stand-in captain was at his eccentric best, infuriating bowlers and fielders alike.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Since then, Rhodes’ blood has been boiling, and his issues with Fatu, a fellow Babyface, came to a head at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2026 from the Bell Centre in Montreal.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Combine equal parts white vinegar and hot (but not boiling) water in a spray bottle or bucket, then spray or pour the solution on the driveway.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cramped, about living with debilitating period pain, is funny, educational, and at times enraging.—
Benjamin Cannon,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
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Paul’s antics are enraging, a bit funny, and a perfect encapsulation of the Chris Paul experience.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Pure evil from a woman seething over rejection.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Further inflaming the issue this week was images of Liam Ramos, a 5-year-old boy who was detained by ICE agents along with his father in Minnesota, prompting strong pushback from local officials.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
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On top of that, Sybil receives a terminal breast cancer diagnosis, further inflaming tensions throughout the house over the holidays.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Roiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roiling. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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