riffraff

noun

ˈrif-ˌraf How to pronounce riffraff (audio)
Definition of riffraffnext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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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
  1. debris
  2. rabble
  3. garbage
  4. populace
  5. trash
  6. public
  7. dust
  8. scum
Noun
  • Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • The largest of the debris aprons covers 50 square miles (130 square kilometers), which would be large enough to bury a small city or a large town.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • At the same time, Democratic leaders, backed by a rabble, stormed City Hall and seized control of the local government.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
  • As the tribunes, Bernardo De Paula’s Brutus and Daniel DeYoung’s Sicinius scheme and rabble-rouse with manipulative glee.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of rabble
Noun
  • Building a new garbage incinerator plant now would cost Miami-Dade County $3 billion under a private development deal that’s facing criticism by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, according to a recent memo.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • The notice of violation was issued on July 12, after the agency received more than 40 public complaints of rotten, sour, garbage-type odors in the area.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • Their past two victories against Switzerland and Egypt came with the help of controversial calls that had the soccer-watching populace buzzing about potential favoritism toward Argentina.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
  • Trump’s decision to deploy these soldiers has thoroughly spooked a populace that already distrusts the president.
    — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of populace
Noun
  • Attorneys for the owners of the landfill, which stopped accepting trash last year, claimed this spring in the litigation that the lawsuits may be tainted by fraud.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • The concrete bleachers around the basketball court was teeming with trash, plastic cups, and bottles of alcohol.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026
Definition of trash
Noun
  • His charm offensive, including moving to Rio and recalling Neymar, has also begun to win over a skeptical public, setting the stage for a crucial World Cup challenge.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Harry and Meghan, who live in California, left Britain in 2020 after stepping back from royal life, and have since been involved in a long-running, public falling out with his family.
    — Max Foster, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • The meteorite had a strong sulfur-like odor and black fragments, debris and dust covered the room.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 July 2026
  • The molecular cloud and its dark lanes of gas and dust, the raw materials for star construction, are at the left of the DECam image.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of dust
Noun
  • Over time, this prevents excessive soap scum and residue from hardening on the surface.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
  • Hard water stains, soap scum, and everyday grime can accumulate quickly, making even the cleanest bathroom feel less fresh.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 July 2026
Definition of scum

Browse Nearby Words

riffling
riffraff
riffs
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Cite this Entry

“Riffraff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riffraff. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on riffraff

Nglish: Translation of riffraff for Spanish Speakers

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