roil

verb

ˈrȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce roil (audio)
 transitive sense 2 is also  ˈrī(-ə)l
roiled; roiling; roils

transitive verb

1
a
: to make turbid by stirring up the sediment or dregs of
b
: to stir up : disturb, disorder
2

intransitive verb

: to move turbulently : be in a state of turbulence or agitation
conflicting emotions roiling inside her

Examples of roil in a Sentence

Financial markets have been roiled by the banking crisis. the waters of the gulf tossed and roiled as the hurricane surged toward the shore
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Wireimage | Getty Images Vail Resorts shares have dropped in recent weeks as a labor dispute has roiled one of America’s most prominent skiing destinations. Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025 His presidency arrived after several years of oil shortages and price spikes that had roiled the economy. Bill Marsh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024 One of the things that roiled through the political calendar year of 2024 was how important, how impactful would that decision be on turnout and the ultimate outcome of the election? CBS News, 29 Dec. 2024 Topline Nima Momeni was found guilty Tuesday of murdering Cash App founder Bob Lee—who was stabbed to death in San Francisco last year— multiple outlets reported, putting an end to the high-profile case that roiled the tech world. Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for roil 

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of roil was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near roil

Cite this Entry

“Roil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roil. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

roil

verb
ˈrȯi(ə)l How to pronounce roil (audio)
 sense 2 is also  ˈrī(ə)l
1
: to make cloudy or muddy by stirring up
roil the water of a brook
2
: to rouse the anger of

More from Merriam-Webster on roil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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