riffle 1 of 2

verb

ˈri-fəl How to pronounce riffle (audio)
Definition of rifflenext
as in to flip
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner Web research is convenient but doesn't offer the tactile pleasures of riffling through heavy old books

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

riffle

2 of 2

noun

as in wavelet

Related 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 riffle
Verb
As Bertha whips up breakfast for their boarders, the couple peers out of the window, watching Bynum Walker (a fantastic Ruben Santiago-Hudson) dance with the pigeons and riffle through Seth’s vegetable garden. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026 Palm fronds riffled in the hot breeze as the sky darkened and the air smelled, mysteriously, of salad dressing. — Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
Tanks and soldiers with riffles have lined the streets of the Paraguayan capital all week. — Samindra Kunti, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Very often, the single word that completes the thought in a Maclean line is the fly that drops perfectly onto the riffle. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for riffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riffle
  1. flip
  2. wavelet
  3. leaf
  4. curl
  5. thumb
  6. roller
  7. skim
  8. comber
Verb
  • And provided the House flips Democratic, Republicans could see a procession of impeachment trials for Cabinet members — and perhaps even the president.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • While there’s no sign the legislature is flipping red, the Illinois GOP hopes recent scandals involving Democratic state lawmakers will breathe new life into the party’s efforts to gain more relevance.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of flip
Noun
  • Pipe those wavelets of foie gras feculence over to neighboring Surfside, a two-bathroom kind of town with waste pipes galore.
    — Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
  • Its wavelets lap enticingly at our feet, but the breaker that might truly knock the breath out of us never comes.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of wavelet
Verb
  • These emotions are pertinent not only to the plant or leaf itself but also to living matter in its vicinity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Planting a leafed-out, growing hosta from a pot is identical to any other transplanting process.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Definition of leaf
Noun
  • By April, curl had returned to HackerOne as its reporting platform while keeping monetary rewards eliminated.
    — Ido Geffen, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Odessa A’zion A’zion let her voluminous curls take center stage at the red carpet.
    — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • Perhaps this is obvious, but the thing about a comedy is that everyone knows in real time whether or not the movie is working or not working — a binary thumbs up, thumbs down feeling — at least for me.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Super agent Scott Boras spoke about the potential for a lockout and thumbed his nose at the owners who want to limit how much teams can spend on talent.
    — Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of thumb
Noun
  • The couple spends time with her twice a month, taking her on adventures to the Oregon Zoo, roller skating and the park.
    — Noelle Crombie, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2026
  • But otherwise, the carbon construction makes for a sturdier feel than the handle on my Tumi 19 Degree Aluminum roller, which costs three times as much.
    — Tim Stevens, The Verge, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of roller
Verb
  • French bob fans will recognize the jaw-skimming silhouette that removes excess weight and adds bounce, especially when paired with a delicate fringe.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The bias cut skims your body in a flattering way without clinging to you like some satin dresses.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of skim
Noun
  • In the scope was one of the many tiny fish bones that were found that day, probably belonging to a small comber or a wrasse.
    — Paul Greenberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
  • The destructive combers continued to undermine dwellings near the water’s edge at West Newport Beach.
    — Scott Harrison, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2019
Definition of comber

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Riffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riffle. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on riffle

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