Skip to main content
to roil

to roil

18 8.5
To make water or other liquid move strongly and become cloudy
  • verb
  • /rɔɪl/
translation icon : agitar
  • Weir braces himself in the doorway, staring out the forward window into the roiling azure clouds.
  • roiled water

Examples

  • Whirlwinds of vapor rose from the roiling surface, danced ahead of the wind.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The tub was huge, and the water roiled with the flip of a switch.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • And then the sea beneath the Pearl. began to roil.

  • There was smoke, a dark mass of smoke roiling up, and under it, smiling, was my father.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The breeze rose some more, roiling the wheat stalks like wind in water.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • As the seat burned, the nature of the flames changed into roiling purplish smoke rich with toxins.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Elaine's head throbbed and her stomach roiled; her eyes felt like rubber balls.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • For hours they trudged, Cloud Mother gradually pulling a roiling charcoal gray blanket over them.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The chef stirred the soup too aggressively, causing it to roil and bubble over the pot.

  • As the storm began to hit, the ocean waves roiled, creating a chaotic scene by the shore.

Synonyms

to boil
vsto roil
  • Informal
114 5.5

To become very angry or excited

make a liquid turbulent or cloudy in a physical sense
to churn
vsto roil
51 4.8

To move violently or feel upset and restless inside

make liquids turbulent or cloudy rather than move violently
to ruffle
vsto roil
7 4.2

Disturb a smooth surface so small waves appear

make liquids turbulent or cloudy rather than cause only small ripples
to seethe
vsto roil
2 6.3

To bubble or boil strongly

make a liquid turbulent or cloudy rather than bubble
to rile
vsto roil
1 8.8

Make water muddy by stirring up dirt

make liquids turbulent or cloudy more broadly
to moil
vsto roil
  • Archaic
9.9

To move and swirl roughly, as water in a storm

make a liquid turbulent or cloudy by disturbing it
to welter
vsto roil
8.9

To move or be tossed about in rough water

make liquids turbulent or cloudy rather than describe chaotic rolling

Antonyms

52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

How Agitated

to churn
51 4.8
to roil
18 8.5
to disturb
183 2.1
to stir
152 1.0

Surface Forms

roil infinitive
roiled past
roiled past participle
roiling present participle
roils third person singular

Etymology

The word roil comes from old words that mean 'to stir' or 'make dirty'. Think of boil: when water boils it churns and looks cloudy, so to roil is to stir a liquid or a situation until it becomes rough or muddy.