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
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Recent Examples of riddle
Big Think, 1 Dec. 2025
The words bring to mind the classic riddle about whether a tree, falling in the forest, makes a sound if no one is around to hear it.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
Injuries have riddled Diggs over the last few years.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riddle
Noun
The answer to nature’s greatest riddles are written upon the Universe itself.
—Big Think, 1 Dec. 2025
The words bring to mind the classic riddle about whether a tree, falling in the forest, makes a sound if no one is around to hear it.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Verb
Bars and restaurants were already riddled with screens before everyone at the table also clutched one in their hand.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
Injuries have riddled Diggs over the last few years.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riddle
Noun
-
In the leadup to its debut, the Apple TV/Sony Pictures Television show has been shrouded in secrecy — a decision that lends itself supremely well to a mystery-box sci-fi thriller that is equal parts philosophical conundrum and blood-chilling horror.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
When the day of the follow-up scan finally arrived, the mystery was solved—not triplets, but twins.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kicker Kyson Scott drilled it, giving Lake Ridge a 38-20 lead at halftime.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rustin drilled Selva one last time on complex equations and imperial history.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The watershed also is situated on relatively flat, low-lying and porous terrain, enabling higher tides to penetrate deeper into the freshwater marshes through the vast network of canals that holds the watershed together.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Massaging it into the scalp helps stimulate circulation and allows the product to penetrate more effectively.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
How long much of the 10,000-km (6,000-mile) journey is undertaken by the freeloading fish, which only live for about two years, is still a puzzle, Meynecke said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For Edelberto’s brother, Amilcar Hernandez, the death has been piercing and painful.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In September, Manow posted a photo of her bloodied face and said Clateman knocked out her dermal piercing during a fight.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
One of the great pleasures of anime is that its unabashed, rollicky genre pieces are often suffused with grand, but not grandiose, sociopolitical commentary — a heady combination that many similar pictures can’t pull off.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Smith suffuses the book with a kind of clinical detachment, even as the dread mounts with each page.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Further enigmas can be found elsewhere on public lands, including within state parks, recreational areas, and more.—
Mike Bezemek,
Outside,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Soho House has always existed as something of an enigma to me.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One defensive stop later, and the Hurricanes clinched their 31-27 win over the Rebels to punch their ticket into the national championship game.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The Ravens battled the Pittsburgh Steelers in a crucial division matchup, where the winner would be crowned AFC North champs and punch its ticket into the postseason, while the loser would be sent packing.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddle. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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