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
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Recent Examples of riddles
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
How imagination works, how influence unfolds, how history rhymes — these remain riddles.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
For now, Anteotokounmpo, 31, remains coy, his words wrapped in riddles and his intentions couched in caveats, even as ESPN continues to report that a trade (somewhere) is viewed as inevitable and even as the two-time MVP insists that a trade is not his decision.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
LeetCode is a training platform for the kind of algorithmic riddles that usually crop up in interviews for big tech companies.
—Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
All types of lanterns are lighted throughout the streets, and poems and riddles are often written for entertainment.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
The resulting footage was only discovered by the Cinémathèque in 2023; now edited together into a cohesive work, this invaluable and sui generis artifact finds one master filmmaker engaging with and taking in thewisdom, riddles, and pronouncements of another.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Neighbors put their own spin on the game, dressing up Frank in accessories, and posting riddles and clues to their local Facebook group to give hints on Frank's whereabouts.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
The answer to nature’s greatest riddles are written upon the Universe itself.
—Big Think, 1 Dec. 2025
Steven R. Furlanetto, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
The New Zealand singer-songwriter wanders around inside her psychedelic folk arrangements, singing in private riddles and changing the tone of her voice from one song (or even one verse) to the next, seemingly oblivious or indifferent to your presence.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
How imagination works, how influence unfolds, how history rhymes — these remain riddles.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
For now, Anteotokounmpo, 31, remains coy, his words wrapped in riddles and his intentions couched in caveats, even as ESPN continues to report that a trade (somewhere) is viewed as inevitable and even as the two-time MVP insists that a trade is not his decision.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
LeetCode is a training platform for the kind of algorithmic riddles that usually crop up in interviews for big tech companies.
—Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
All types of lanterns are lighted throughout the streets, and poems and riddles are often written for entertainment.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
The resulting footage was only discovered by the Cinémathèque in 2023; now edited together into a cohesive work, this invaluable and sui generis artifact finds one master filmmaker engaging with and taking in thewisdom, riddles, and pronouncements of another.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Neighbors put their own spin on the game, dressing up Frank in accessories, and posting riddles and clues to their local Facebook group to give hints on Frank's whereabouts.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
The answer to nature’s greatest riddles are written upon the Universe itself.
—Big Think, 1 Dec. 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
-
In this volume are all the wild, enthused lines, stoked for life’s daily mysteries, and all the tender elevations that we have been used to experiencing in the poetry of Eileen Myles!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Solving one of the mysteries will not necessarily unlock all the others.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The two countries conducted joint nuclear forces drills earlier this month.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
-
Minnesota has a desire to get Edwards off the ball more next season to create more of the easy catch-and-shoot looks the superstar routinely drills.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
But the latter’s crisply executed harmonies are but one of multiple examples of what splendid singing suffuses this production.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
-
Announcing its hardcore aspirations with a moody steel-blue palette that suffuses the rural setting with dread, the film takes place almost entirely on a remote cow farm, the home of a mixed-race family of three.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Chuckling at Bane's childish prank calls, unlocking silly cosmetic suits, and collaborating with my family to solve puzzles made for not just a great game, but some fantastic family memories.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Space the planting holes 18 to 24 inches apart and space rows 3 to 6 feet apart.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
-
The flight attendants then attempted to solve the problem by shoving napkins inside the ceiling holes.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Red light at a wavelength of roughly 620–700 nanometers penetrates superficially and targets collagen remodeling and inflammation.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
When mixed with soil, compost releases the nutrients and improves the texture of the soil so that water both penetrates and drains well.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Bob Gray is one of the big enigmas in the book that are intentionally put there to create tension and are never solved.—
Scott Huver,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Toss in plenty of brutal murders, bizarre prophecies, time-bending enigmas, and haunting hallucinations — all seemingly tied to Lucy’s mysterious meetings with the Hannibal Lecter-like Gideon Shepherd (Peter Capaldi) — and this one's well worth losing six hours of sleep over.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old?—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
-
Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddles. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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