RILED Synonyms: 264 Similar and Opposite Words

riled 1 of 2

adjective

as in angry

feeling or showing anger the woman was obviously riled, as she kept throwing things

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

riled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rile

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 riled

Adjective

With just three weeks until the midterms, Trump is clearly riled about diesel prices and the slow recovery of exports of refined products from the Persian Gulf. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026 In any case, the epilogue sticks the landing and allows audiences to leave the theater feeling riled up rather than hopeless. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026 The Aaron Rodgers segment on ESPN got folks on both sides of the Anthony Fauci debate quite riled up on Monday. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Jacobs, at least in the movie, never gets riled or angry or stressed. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026 The more people tell them to pipe down, the more riled up Kizzi and Joe get. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026 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

While unquestionably divisive, the topic of her speech wasn’t what riled the online masses. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Those types of responses have riled her critics, who have portrayed her as indecisive at best, and an opportunist at worst. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Township officials accused me of a power grab and riled up the local township boards, which came out en masse. — Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 And while enough baseball (and IL time) has happened since then to dim Mayer’s star considerably, there’s enough promise left in him to get Law riled up about the trade. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Offseason inaction on the pitching side already riled folks up, though … and methinks alleviating that angst will require something more adventurous. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 29 July 2026 This riled up the Kremlin, which works to create a perception of total support for Putin among the voting public. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 17 July 2026 Water use, electricity costs and more have riled up large portions of the electorate. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 24 June 2026 That’s the only explicable reason for Australians to be riled up by comments from a guy most American fans can’t pick out of a lineup, whose most productive season came for a club literally named the Rough Riders. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for riled

Adjective

Legend has it that sad fates befell those who made her angry and happy ones those who were kind to her.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, angry residents continue to flood once-sleepy municipal board meetings, pressuring officials to reject data center proposals.

— Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of angry

Verb

That was the question that annoyed Steinbrenner, who is backing a system that would strip his team of a financial advantage while falling in line with other billionaire ballclub owners, who tend to vote as a unified bloc.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
The innkeeper is annoyed that his wife wants more conversation.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoyed

Verb

Trip isn’t the standout role, but Keery handles the character’s exasperated monologues with panache, turning self-defense and infuriated straight-talk into acts of exhilarating sanity.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Sydney Sweeney is no stranger to starring in a controversial ad — and her latest effort has infuriated female athletes, including Olympians.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of infuriated

Adjective

And not just any velociraptor, but the enraged dinosaur that pushed franchise champion Rachel Reilly into a volcano, thereby burning the reality TV icon to a crisp in a sea of lava.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2026
Imagine the ripe smell of swamp-wet dogs, the acrid stench of overheated, enraged bear, the slippery warm blood of pack members already lost; the simply insufferable noise and confusion in that dank little hole.

— Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of enraged

Verb

The ruling coalition angered the protesters by unexpectedly moving ahead with the plan in the lower house of Parliament two days ago.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Yet over the past year, Netanyahu has taken steps that angered Trump and others in his administration, including strikes in Lebanon and Gaza that undercut his regional peace efforts.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of angered

Verb

Some develop in varicose veins; others form where a needle or IV has irritated a vein.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
The episode confused and irritated the Red Sox, and following Saturday’s win starting pitcher Sonny Gray acknowledged that Alexander’s antics had provided the club with extra motivation.

— Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritated

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“Riled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riled. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of riled

adjective

verb

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