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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of riddles
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
Play the role of a detective and complete riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers to solve the mystery by Christmas Eve.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 16 Nov. 2025
In my experience, one viewing at the New York Film Festival was not enough to parse the film’s gorgeous riddles and meditation on cinema as a dream machine.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Steven R. Furlanetto, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
Play the role of a detective and complete riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers to solve the mystery by Christmas Eve.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 16 Nov. 2025
In my experience, one viewing at the New York Film Festival was not enough to parse the film’s gorgeous riddles and meditation on cinema as a dream machine.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
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
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
-
It’s gotten some more action, some deeper mysteries.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Plenty of patients have guessed all along that being a carrier could explain mysteries about their health, Sid said.—
Roxanne Khamsi,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everette, who with punter Brett Thorson and long snapper Beau Gardner are the former Bulldogs competing in Senior Bowl drills this week, is adjusting to life after Georgia football.—
Mike Griffith,
AJC.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Every college and pro coach drills the same message into their players’ heads, nothing good happens after midnight.—
Ryan Gaydos , Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Patriotism suffuses the Made in America movement.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
29 Nov. 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
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Other offerings included paintings, candles, soaps, puzzles, jewelry, scarves and blankets.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Pierce holes in the cake so that the Bourbon Glaze can soak in.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But Snead also promised to take an aggressive approach to the cornerback position, given the low investments, lack of recent draft picks and holes the group showed as the season played out.—
Nate Atkins,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The process is arduous, spanning days or weeks of boiling and soaking in syrup, but when sugar properly penetrates fruit’s cellular structure, not only does the appearance become almost incandescent, but the microbes that cause spoilage can’t survive.—
Hannah Walhout,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The aerator penetrates and removes a cigar size piece of soil and distributes it on the soil surface.—
Calvin Finch,
San Antonio Express-News,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking of enigmas, Katie Zelem plays for West Ham now on loan after less than five months with London City.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Yet despite their impressive size, encounters with these enigmas remain exceedingly rare due to the myriad of challenges of studying deep-sea sharks.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nothing that pierces the skin should ever be used as leverage over a child's opportunity to education and to learn.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Nicole Kidman's stare pierces the room.—
Jennifer Brett,
Nashville Tennessean,
16 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddles. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
