1
as in angry
feeling or showing anger some visibly riley people were lined up in the customer service department

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2
as in muddy
having visible particles in liquid suspension take care not to stir up the bottom of the stream when you fill the dipper, or your water will be riley

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for riley
Adjective
  • One of her twisted arms is lopped off by an angry audience member and turns into a firehose of blood.
    Scottie Andrew, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Trashing a guy’s car is nothing new among angry exes, but one Florida woman took it to an absurd level after having a little too much to drink, according to Florida investigators.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Evidence of bygone civilizations has been steadily deposited on the river’s muddy bottom for modern archaeologists to mine.
    Alexander Nazaryan, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Hansen stripped off her knee pads, helmet, elbow pads, cave pack and muddy boots — after finishing her qualifications to lead cave tours at the national monument — and began to cry.
    Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • While Nigerians are upset with economic conditions, most are not mad at Dangote.
    John Hyatt, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2025
  • If someone is getting mad about it on social media, that’s not controversy.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In that time the model lineup has grown to include three distinct body styles and performance configurations that span from relatively quick to properly ballistic.
    Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Authorities who searched the car found a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, respirators and ammunition, the FBI said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The album’s a masterpiece of circulatory funk that works your body but whose indignant resignation and few hopeful embers also break your heart.
    Wesley Morris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
  • In his first news conference since he the head injury on Sept. 12, Tagovailoa appeared somewhat indignant, especially when asked about how his concussion history will impact his NFL future.
    C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Cormack was furious, issuing a sharp rebuke, the official said.
    Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 16 Feb. 2025
  • According to the Sheriff’s Office: Following a furious chase through Cascade, the black Toyota Tundra pickup truck headed south on Idaho 55, weaving in and around traffic while deputies kept pace behind.
    Max Silverson, Idaho Statesman, 14 Feb. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Riley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riley. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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