roil
/'rɔili/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To make (a liquid) cloudy or muddy by stirring up sediment: To agitate a liquid, causing particles at the bottom to rise and make the liquid turbid.
- To annoy or irritate (a person): To vex, disturb, or make someone angry.
Verb (intransitive):
- To be in a state of turbulence or agitation: To move in a turbulent, swirling manner.
Usage and Examples
Transitive Verb (Making liquid turbid):
- The boat's propeller roiled the clear water of the lake.
- He roiled the pond by poking a stick into the mud.
Transitive Verb (Annoying someone):
- His constant criticism began to roil her.
- The unfair decision roiled the entire community.
Intransitive Verb (Being agitated):
- Storm clouds roiled overhead.
- Her stomach roiled with anxiety.
Advanced Usage and Notes
- Figurative Use: Often used figuratively to describe disturbing emotions, situations, or groups of people.
- The scandal continued to roil the political landscape for months.
- "Roiling" as an adjective: Describes something that is turbulent or agitated.
- The debate took place in a roiling atmosphere of distrust.
Variants and Related Words
- Roily (adjective): Turbid, muddy, or agitated.
- The river was roily after the heavy rain.
Synonyms
- Agitate: To stir up or disturb.
- Churn: To move vigorously, especially a liquid.
- Rile: To irritate or annoy (very close in meaning for the emotional sense).
- Turbid: Cloudy or opaque (an adjective describing the state roil creates).
Antonyms
- Settle: To become clear or calm.
- Pacify: To soothe or calm (for the emotional sense).
- Clarify: To make clear.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "To roil the waters": To deliberately create trouble or disturbance in a situation.
- The new evidence is sure to roil the waters of the ongoing trial.
Verb
- make turbid by stirring up the sediments of
- be agitated
- the sea was churning in the storm