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
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Recent Examples of riddle
Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
This team battles over everything, from sewer ball (the pregame soccer routine) to cornhole to riddles at the dinner table.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Apr. 2025
The rest of the match was riddled with miscues akin to Atencio’s giveaway, just in smaller moments as attacks were building.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riddle
Noun
There’s secrets, codes, riddles and all sorts of fun stuff.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
This team battles over everything, from sewer ball (the pregame soccer routine) to cornhole to riddles at the dinner table.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
The film's ending is a bona fide bloodbath, leaving the majority of the ensemble riddled with bullets.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Apr. 2025
The rest of the match was riddled with miscues akin to Atencio’s giveaway, just in smaller moments as attacks were building.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riddle
Noun
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Joseph Vacher was executed via guillotine after he was found guilty of murder, but the true number of his victims remains a mystery Few know the name Joseph Vacher — even though his crimes surpassed those of the world’s most infamous serial killers.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
18 May 2025
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The identity of the man in the photo remained a mystery to the outside world until USA TODAY sought clarification from federal officials.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
Verb
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The Bears’ senior drilled a walk-off double to center field in the bottom of the seventh that scored two runs, giving Menlo-Atherton a 4-3 win Wednesday over Burlingame in a Peninsula Athletic League Bay contest.—
Mike Lefkow,
Mercury News,
8 May 2025
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On the Knicks’ next possession, Bridges drilled a 3-pointer from the corner, getting help from the backboard as the ball glanced off the glass.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2025
Verb
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Pros: Instant hydration and plump Cons: Pricey for the amount of product A dermatologist favorite, this product penetrates deep into the skin, increasing the skin’s hyaluronic acid levels, aiding in long-term hydration and plumping.—
Taryn Brooke,
Glamour,
14 May 2025
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There are ongoing awareness campaigns to spread information about energy-efficient appliances and how to cook with them, though the messaging has not yet penetrated everywhere.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
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These puzzles required the participants to fill in the blanks on a series of two-tone images with minimal detail.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
15 May 2025
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For a deeper and more personalized analysis of puzzle difficulty, please visit Connections Bot.—
New York Times Games,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Taking the main melody, the nine-time Grammy winner’s piercing voice soars over lush harmonies provided by the other singers, with Eilish adding her own tasteful riffs throughout.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
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If one chapter of your mortal span—your wartime experience, or a love affair—has pierced you more sharply than any other, why shouldn’t that chapter go up front?—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
Verb
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Kaunas: Where the Grand Duchy Endures As the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania — one of Europe’s largest and most powerful nations during the Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance — Kaunas is suffused with history.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Pak Bae The music of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast is suffused with longing.—
Lindsay Totty,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The new research resolves a two-decade-long enigma relating to a bright flash that was observed coming from the magnetar SGR 1806-20—which lies some 42,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Sagittarius—back in late 2004.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
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Just like the woman herself, Melania Trump’s wedding dress is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Panthers can punch with anyone, if this series comes to that.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2025
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All three have at least one title, too, and the power four has punched three Final Four tickets in the last two state tournaments.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddle. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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