RIFFRAFFS Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

riffraff

noun

ˈrif-ˌraf

Definition of riffraff

as in debris

discarded or useless material the sight of piles and piles of riffraff at the town dump was a sobering reminder that we are indeed a society of consumers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rabble

people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class local ordinances that are intended to keep the riffraff out of the town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 riffraff Lawyers, journalists and similar riffraff congregated at lunch or after work, and Vincent worked the room, table-hopping with jokes or movie reviews or tales from his latest intriguing trip. — Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2024 The bar’s owner, Frankie (a spirited Jessica Williams), has hired Dalton to purge the riffraff, the better to realize her dream of making the Road House a respectable joint worthy of destination weddings and romantic getaways. — Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Bypass the riffraff and turn your ideas into something concrete. — Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2024 William is ready for the task and has no intention of being killed by rebels or any other riffraff in the forests of Virginia. — Lincee Ray, EW.com, 8 July 2023 See All Example Sentences for riffraff

Recent Examples of Synonyms for riffraff

Noun

The whole satellite network needs to be resilient to space debris.

— Peter Hall, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
And even more monsters can be found in sculptural works such as LeRage (2017), which shows a grayscale version of the Incredible Hulk smashing his fist into the ground and sending debris flying.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of debris

Noun

Abdul El-Sayed, a rabble-rousing populist and former public health official, just barely eked out a primary victory Tuesday in Michigan over a centrist rival who was the pick of Washington Democrats to keep a must-hold Senate seat.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026
Their tardiness, which saw the start delayed by half an hour, was continued on the field with India looking like a rabble in the face of the onslaught from Buttler and Brook.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of rabble

Noun

By the late 19th century, something previously seen as garbage had become the foundation of a major new industry.

— Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Electricity is now available up to 20 hours per day, Damascus and other cities are lit up at night, garbage is being collected, and water supplies are returning to neighborhoods on a weekly basis.

— Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

The decision was ultimately reversed by a New York Supreme Court judge, on the grounds that Warren violated the populace’s religious liberties.

— Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
The entire populace is beholden to Billy’s stepmom, Zoe Macon (Poorna Jagannathan), their resident Manhunter in hiding.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of populace

Noun

Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.

— Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026

Definition of people

Noun

Even great books can acquire dust on the shelf; an infusion of feeling helps keep them alive.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
The poorer the air being inhaled by children in Hackney, the more regularly the dust was agitated and the thicker the storm and richer the color inside the box.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of dust

Noun

The pool distributes in-person reports and imagery to the broader press corps and is designed to hold the nation’s chief executive accountable on behalf of the American public.

— Sarah Rankin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
According to recent survey data from polling firm Forsa, merely 11% of the German public currently expresses satisfaction with his performance in office.

— , CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of public

Browse Nearby Words

riffling

riffraff

riffs

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Style

“Riffraff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riffraff. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of riffraff

noun

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