as in interpretation
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play)
a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riff
Her homage to San Francisco is the lemongrass cioppino, a herbaceous riff on the city’s classic Fisherman's Wharf stew.
—
Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
This riff is a nice stretch on the classic thanks to cute bowtie pasta.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
The synthesizer riff starts to clink.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
An indie rock band struggling to make its mark finds a possible meal ticket in an infectious new guitar riff.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riff
Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
This riff is a nice stretch on the classic thanks to cute bowtie pasta.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
The synthesizer riff starts to clink.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
An indie rock band struggling to make its mark finds a possible meal ticket in an infectious new guitar riff.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riff
Noun
-
Ernaux’s signature method of resisting interpretation and incarnating the past plunges us into this girl’s experience.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Supporters dispute interpretation The position taken by Raynes’ group on the civil rights bill has confounded some of the measure’s supporters.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, until it can be established by either fossil evidence or genetic variation that the trees were here before the Chumash, this possibility cannot be discounted.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Its position in the north of the valley doesn’t allow the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay to reach it, making for fairly warm temperatures and decreased variation in day-to-night temperatures when compared to the rest of the valley.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
We are faced with a vastly more consequential version of a Catch-22.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t lock into one version too soon.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riff. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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