variants
also ricochetted
as in bounced
to strike and fly off at an angle
the ball ricocheted off the fielder's glove and went over the fence for a home run
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Recent Examples of ricocheted
Playing from partially behind a tree on the seventh hole, Rory McIlroy missed the right side of the fairway with a high shot that ricocheted off the back of his father’s leg on the way down.
—
Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
With just over 11 minutes to play, Celina senior Ryleigh Stifflemire broke loose down the right wing and fired a low cross in front of goal before the ball ricocheted off a Salado defender into the net for an own-goal.
—Staff Writter, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026
Forsberg scored on a free kick from the edge of the penalty arc that ricocheted off the crossbar into the net to give the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 48th.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Defender Luka Vuskovic’s long-range shot ricocheted off a defender, and Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas was unable to stop it from hitting the back of the net.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
The Thorns answered six minutes later when Pietra Tordin followed through with her initial shot, which ricocheted off the right post to equalize the match.
—Amanda Vogt, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Miles, who had only four points at halftime after a triple-double in the first-round win over UC San Diego, had a shot to win the game in regulation, but her 3-point attempt at the buzzer ricocheted off the back of the rim.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
As if in slow motion, the ball ricocheted off the rim and into the backboard before dropping cleanly through the net.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
The exchange ricocheted across Reddit and social media, cementing him, for some viewers, as a provocateur skating too close to the edge.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
With just over 11 minutes to play, Celina senior Ryleigh Stifflemire broke loose down the right wing and fired a low cross in front of goal before the ball ricocheted off a Salado defender into the net for an own-goal.
—Staff Writter, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026
Forsberg scored on a free kick from the edge of the penalty arc that ricocheted off the crossbar into the net to give the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 48th.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Defender Luka Vuskovic’s long-range shot ricocheted off a defender, and Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas was unable to stop it from hitting the back of the net.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
The Thorns answered six minutes later when Pietra Tordin followed through with her initial shot, which ricocheted off the right post to equalize the match.
—Amanda Vogt, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Miles, who had only four points at halftime after a triple-double in the first-round win over UC San Diego, had a shot to win the game in regulation, but her 3-point attempt at the buzzer ricocheted off the back of the rim.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
As if in slow motion, the ball ricocheted off the rim and into the backboard before dropping cleanly through the net.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
The exchange ricocheted across Reddit and social media, cementing him, for some viewers, as a provocateur skating too close to the edge.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ricocheted
Verb
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Chase Meidroth then hit a blooper that bounced away from left fielder Taylor Ward for an RBI double.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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Tyran Stokes, hailed as the top prospect in the high school class of 2026, has bounced up and down the West Coast, attending three different high schools in four years, while fans on Reddit scrutinize his performance and national media agonize over his oscillating college decision.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The third goal came on a breakdown when Oskar Bäck passed into open space for Blackwell; Gustavsson didn’t attack the shooter, then lost the puck when Blackwell hit the post, and the puck rebounded to Cameron Hughes for his first NHL goal.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Fortunately, La Concha withstood both and was ready to welcome guests when travel rebounded after World War II.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ricocheted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ricocheted. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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