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
The Boys is a show that riffs on the superhero industrial complex, including Marvel.
—
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025
The app riffs on similar AI competitors, like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
Across the world, the NYC ballet company Metropolitan Ballet Theater—a riff on the American Ballet Theatre, which performs at the renowned New York City arts center Lincoln Center—is facing problems of its own.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Expect mostly classic American fare—the deer camp pie, an Upper Peninsula riff on shepherd’s pie with venison, is a personal favorite.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025
The app riffs on similar AI competitors, like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
Across the world, the NYC ballet company Metropolitan Ballet Theater—a riff on the American Ballet Theatre, which performs at the renowned New York City arts center Lincoln Center—is facing problems of its own.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Expect mostly classic American fare—the deer camp pie, an Upper Peninsula riff on shepherd’s pie with venison, is a personal favorite.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riff
Noun
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The Senate Parliamentarian, a non-partisan advisor to the congressional body, upheld that interpretation, ruling that the Senate couldn’t use the Congressional Review Act to repeal California’s waivers.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
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Regulatory documents are often written for legal interpretation, not technical implementation, leaving development teams struggling to translate abstract obligations into concrete product functionalities.—
Suresh Kannan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
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There is a sense of anticipation as plants return from one year to the next, often with surprising variations in color or form from the natural diversity found in seed.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
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Clamps — There are honestly too many variations of clamps to name, from Cardellinis to Mafers, with each having a specific purpose, whether that be holding gels to lights or needing an item held in the perfect position.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
Noun
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The World Cup has most recently been aired by NBC, which remains the broadcaster of the Olympic Games and therefore will retain the rights to Rugby Sevens, the seven-a-side version of the sport, during the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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Make sure your browser supports WebGL to see the full version.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riff. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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