as in mysteries
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 drills
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 suffuses
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 riddles
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Although specific customs vary regionally across the Chinese-speaking world, the most prevalent activities involve lighting lanterns, guessing riddles, eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls with fillings like sweet red beans or black sesame paste), and watching traditional lion dance performances.
—Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
Strange statues and cryptic riddles in Italian or Latin appear around every corner, making each visit feel like a discovery that the whole family can enjoy.
—Fulvio De Bonis, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
If Payton is to be believed — and any job search involves riddles and tall tales — the presence of the Penners sold him on the Broncos.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2025
With 60 minutes on the clock, participants are challenged to solve clues and riddles in order to make their escape.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Combat isn't everything, however; Silent Hill f has plenty of puzzles, riddles, and secrets scattered throughout the world, providing a satisfying challenge.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Representing himself in the case, Routh submitted three filings to the court, all of which were filled with unusual sentiments and riddles with typos.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The quintessentially British film also charts the adventures of a group of friends from different walks of life residing in a grand castle-like building and solving riddles together.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Steven R. Furlanetto, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
His fans and followers enjoy solving the riddles through the screen, and the comments usually reflect the level of difficulty or ease of each game.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Although specific customs vary regionally across the Chinese-speaking world, the most prevalent activities involve lighting lanterns, guessing riddles, eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls with fillings like sweet red beans or black sesame paste), and watching traditional lion dance performances.
—Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
Strange statues and cryptic riddles in Italian or Latin appear around every corner, making each visit feel like a discovery that the whole family can enjoy.
—Fulvio De Bonis, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
If Payton is to be believed — and any job search involves riddles and tall tales — the presence of the Penners sold him on the Broncos.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2025
With 60 minutes on the clock, participants are challenged to solve clues and riddles in order to make their escape.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Combat isn't everything, however; Silent Hill f has plenty of puzzles, riddles, and secrets scattered throughout the world, providing a satisfying challenge.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Representing himself in the case, Routh submitted three filings to the court, all of which were filled with unusual sentiments and riddles with typos.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The quintessentially British film also charts the adventures of a group of friends from different walks of life residing in a grand castle-like building and solving riddles together.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Any trip to the dark night skies of our Southern California deserts reveals a vista full of wonder and mystery — riddles that astrophysicists like myself spend our days unraveling.
—Steven R. Furlanetto, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riddles
Noun
-
Buoyed by this success, Congress established a series of primate research centers in the nineteen-sixties, hoping that our closest living relatives might help solve other medical mysteries, from Alzheimer’s to Zika.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The state also limited preseason contact drills to six hours total and banned spring and summer practices.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
-
If New England drills the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel might not make it to Week 3.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
An international cult favorite, Lee is revered for the philosophical nerve that suffuses his rigorously inventive melodramas, which variously pick apart the complexities of Korean society.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The store sells classroom items, toys, games, puzzles and other specialized educational items.—
Sydney Sasser,
Arkansas Online,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With key free agents and holes opening across the roster, the Jays will have to find the same formula that nearly lifted them to a title.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
And the rise of insurance money in investing has created patient capital that in many cases fits those money holes better than blunter instruments.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What starts as a plush gel, lathers into a rich foam that penetrates deep to remove all traces of residue.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The oil penetrates your skin quickly and can help soothe dry, irritated skin.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Over time, the fate of the footage has become one of the biggest enigmas in Hollywood history.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Unexplained aerial phenomena, commonly branded as UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and more recently as UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), remain one of history’s most enduring enigmas.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Her infectious laugh regularly pierces the newsroom noise.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
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But the show's greatest asset is its stars, whose endearing real-life friendship pierces through the play’s inherent despair.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddles. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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