as in bounces
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 ricochets
When a bullet from Franco ricochets off a pot, Root is exultant.
—
Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026
Oh, and one more thing, which becomes clear when every ball that ricochets off a fielder’s glove is greeted with jeers from onlooking teammates.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The intensity that typically ricochets from the bench funneled through a microphone instead as Nakase stepped into the broadcast booth for the Golden State Warriors’ matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, offering analysis rather than play calls.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Set in the Mississippi Delta, the film took a humanist approach to how a Black man’s tragic death ricochets off the lives around him.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
This superfine powder shines bright (yes, like a diamond) and wraps skin in a 3D, light-catching veil that practically ricochets off every surface.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Nov. 2025
At the center of it all is the consumer who will be out there on the other side of the phone as the show ricochets around the internet.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Then the screech of a spiny lobster katydid, or giant lobster cricket, ricochets among the trees.
—Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2023
Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026
Oh, and one more thing, which becomes clear when every ball that ricochets off a fielder’s glove is greeted with jeers from onlooking teammates.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The intensity that typically ricochets from the bench funneled through a microphone instead as Nakase stepped into the broadcast booth for the Golden State Warriors’ matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, offering analysis rather than play calls.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Set in the Mississippi Delta, the film took a humanist approach to how a Black man’s tragic death ricochets off the lives around him.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
This superfine powder shines bright (yes, like a diamond) and wraps skin in a 3D, light-catching veil that practically ricochets off every surface.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Nov. 2025
At the center of it all is the consumer who will be out there on the other side of the phone as the show ricochets around the internet.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Then the screech of a spiny lobster katydid, or giant lobster cricket, ricochets among the trees.
—Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ricochets
Verb
-
More pitches are available and the ball actually bounces fairly predictably on the artificial surface.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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To win the World Cup, a team needs luck—luck that the ball bounces its way and its key players don’t get injured.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Olivia Nelson-Ododa finished with 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench to pace the Sun.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Olivia Nelson-Ododa finished with 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench to pace the Sun (2-13).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ricochets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ricochets. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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