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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Recent Examples of riff
Among them are the Brazilian Oscar hopeful The Secret Agent ($5), Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice ($5), the Spanish trek through the desert Sirāt ($3), the German Oscar entry Sound of Falling ($3), and Sony Pictures Classics’ Japanese Hamlet riff, Scarlet ($3).
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Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
The winding, heavy riff after the opera section, the one that would give the song one of its many second lives when Mike Myers and Dana Carvey headbanged to it in 1992’s Wayne’s World, was Mercury’s own invention.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Some restaurants only sell pho ga, a lighter riff using chicken, while others incorporate barbecue and other modern innovations to create distinctly Houstonian spins on the dish.
—Bao Ong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
This elevated riff on classic potato salad will be the talk of your next potluck.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
The winding, heavy riff after the opera section, the one that would give the song one of its many second lives when Mike Myers and Dana Carvey headbanged to it in 1992’s Wayne’s World, was Mercury’s own invention.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Some restaurants only sell pho ga, a lighter riff using chicken, while others incorporate barbecue and other modern innovations to create distinctly Houstonian spins on the dish.
—Bao Ong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
This elevated riff on classic potato salad will be the talk of your next potluck.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riff
Noun
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Each artist created their own interpretations of Jacobs’ signature silhouettes, ranging from the Tote Bag and Snapshot to ready-to-wear, accessories and wallets, through the lens of joy as wearable fashions.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
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Modern interpretations of inns layer rustic charm with contemporary finishes.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ukrainian experts claimed the device was a variation on an older model RS26, and showed me what looked like ageing valves in its circuitry at a storage facility in Kyiv.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
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Photos show the color variation between males and females of the new species.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Choices for ink tank printers include inkjet versions of all of the above (except for laser paper) and a lot more.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
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The newer versions can hit stationary and moving targets at sea.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riff. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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