Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. make turbid by stirring up the sediments of
2. be agitated
   • the sea was churning in the storm