as in interpretation
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play)
a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riff
Christened the Say 42 Sport, the new 42-footer is a sporty riff on the first Say 42 that debuted in 2020.
—
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Some modern riffs incorporate pine needles lightly for aroma, but bark itself is not consumed.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
The combo of the group’s power chord-mad riffs, frontman Klaus Meine’s cutting vocals and ear-turning accent, and, of course, Buchholz’s rock-solid rhythms positioned them for heavy-metal dominance in the rock-hungry Eighties.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
There’s an abundance of intricate riffs, hypnotic solo passages and wickedly tight drumming to be found on this LP.
—Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riff
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Some modern riffs incorporate pine needles lightly for aroma, but bark itself is not consumed.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
The combo of the group’s power chord-mad riffs, frontman Klaus Meine’s cutting vocals and ear-turning accent, and, of course, Buchholz’s rock-solid rhythms positioned them for heavy-metal dominance in the rock-hungry Eighties.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
There’s an abundance of intricate riffs, hypnotic solo passages and wickedly tight drumming to be found on this LP.
—Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riff
Noun
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South Korea’s legislature hasn’t ratified the trade agreement due to a dispute over conflicting interpretations of its implementation.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
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His administration has long advocated for a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The off-field variation features Air cushioning and a full-length foam midsole for casual comfort.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Stewards design systems to minimize risk and variation.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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No wonder the poem has lived with two versions for a century.—
Simon Maghakyan,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
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Woods Design is also offering an aluminum version as part of this campaign, which is still lightweight and durable but just not as sturdy as the titanium bracelet.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riff. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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