riddle 1 of 2

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

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riddle

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun riddle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of riddle are enigma, mystery, problem, and puzzle. While all these words mean "something which baffles or perplexes," riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.

the riddle of the reclusive pop star

When might enigma be a better fit than riddle?

While the synonyms enigma and riddle are close in meaning, enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.

his suicide remains an enigma

When is mystery a more appropriate choice than riddle?

The words mystery and riddle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.

the mystery of the stone monoliths

When could problem be used to replace riddle?

The synonyms problem and riddle are sometimes interchangeable, but problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.

problems created by high technology

Where would puzzle be a reasonable alternative to riddle?

In some situations, the words puzzle and riddle are roughly equivalent. However, puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.

the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of riddle
Noun
At least one of these riddles has been solved! Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025 In the race to save Enid and Bruno, Wednesday must solve a riddle to stop a platform of lowering knives threatening to kill them. Daron James, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Seahawks’ path to success is winning with defense, led by star defensive tackle Leonard Williams, but the offense is riddled with question marks—and some real upside thanks to Darnold, Kupp, running back Kenneth Walker and wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba. David Wilson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025 The company suggest that data inherited from legacy systems is often outdated, riddled with duplicates, inconsistencies, or poorly structured coding frameworks. Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for riddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riddle
Noun
  • These fossils are now helping to solve a mystery in paleontology.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025
  • At the baseline, that means making sure not to let the trash can overflow and instead taking it out often, as well as ensuring spots like your trash can, sink disposal, or fridge are free of any mystery odors.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While Tranter tinkers and Zuzana monitors the wall of local surveillance footage, Karalis and his team get to work drilling through the wall of the vault.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
  • His company saw a 2,408% increase in flaring immediately following new wells being drilled and a 692% increase in flaring overall in 2023, according to emails unearthed by environmental watchdog organization Fieldnotes and shared with ProPublica and Inside Climate News.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With an operational range between 1,800 (1,100) and 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles), the DF-17 is designed to penetrate missile defenses through unpredictable maneuvers at Mach 5 to Mach 10 speeds.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Outside of Hulu’s recent hit King of the Hill revival, Daniels’ work in the streaming era, with shows like Upload and Space Force, has been creatively uneven, while also failing to penetrate the zeitgeist in the way his earlier series did.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Looking for a free mini puzzle?
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Looking for a free mini puzzle?
    Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The fatal knife wound pierced Martin's sternum before going into his heart.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Hospitals overflowing with patients ripped by shrapnel and pierced by bullets.
    Brendan Rascius, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • His narration is a constant pleasure — mournful, wry, and suffused with a world-weary poetry.
    Leila Latif, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Does that ideal suffuse your work?
    Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • More Michael Owens/Getty Images Leonard has always been regarded as an enigma because of his chronic injury problems and his extremely introverted (and some would say odd) personality.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The formula for a modern-day It-girl is both something of an enigma and pretty simple.
    Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Like the clang of bells, the sound bypassed my ears and punched the air from my lungs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • His video shows the worker being punched and stomped on as others attempted to intervene.
    Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Riddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddle. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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