as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
his motives for starting an argument with the coach were a complete riddle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in
several signs along the highway were riddled by buckshot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to penetrate
to spread throughout
the newspaper exposé revealed a gaming commission that is riddled with corruption
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of riddle
Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
The riddle of Randy drove his parents to distraction.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
In the film, Charli XCX plays herself, but she is riddled with anxiety, doubt, and confusion about where her career should go next.
—Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riddle
Noun
There was no judgment, no riddle to be answered or trial needing to be passed.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
The riddle of Randy drove his parents to distraction.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
Pretti was on his knees, restrained, posing no apparent threat, when he was riddled with bullets.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
In the film, Charli XCX plays herself, but she is riddled with anxiety, doubt, and confusion about where her career should go next.
—Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riddle
Noun
-
While scientists have long observed this liquid-to-solid transformation, the exact molecular link that converts these fluid droplets into a high-performance final structure has remained a mystery until now.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Ward said her mother was fascinated with the mystery of Amelia Earhart, and that fascination turned into countless trips to air shows and museums.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Miles came out aggressive, scoring 11 of TCU’s 19 points in the first quarter, including drilling a 3-pointer.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The team will drill through the ice and deploy instruments nearly 1,000 meters below the surface to measure how warm ocean water interacts with the glacier base.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Advanced technologies like microencapsulation and nano-layering allow actives to penetrate effectively without overwhelming the skin’s surface—reducing irritation while improving efficacy.—
Corein Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Plus, Neutrogena’s patented micro-peptide technology, which allows the peptides to penetrate more easily into the skin and better, boosts collagen and elastin production.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Jenny Porter Tilley,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From another ward not too far away, the piercing screams of a patient are audible.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The dress was a reference to Thierry Mugler’s bold and iconic spring couture 1998 runway show, in which Erica Vanbriel modeled the original nipple piercing dress.—
Alexandra Hildreth,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Your energetic 5th house hosts the meeting of Mercury and Pluto, suffusing your hobbies with cosmic delight.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Reid seemed to truly believe, despite the partisanship that suffused the column, that the Senate had been badly damaged.—
Jon Ralston,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking of enigmas, Katie Zelem plays for West Ham now on loan after less than five months with London City.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Yet despite their impressive size, encounters with these enigmas remain exceedingly rare due to the myriad of challenges of studying deep-sea sharks.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mohamed adds punch to the running game.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Last week, the Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddle. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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