as in interpretations
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play)
a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of riffs
The 50-year-old former longtime creative director at Moschino is known for his inventiveness and bold riffs on Americana and pop culture.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Williams and Antonoff closed out the event with a joint performance backed by Bleachers, blending their catalogs into a soulful set jam-packed with saxophone solos and expansive riffs.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
His timeless riffs and solos, the billowing smoke coming from his Les Paul, the rockets shooting from his headstock, his cool spacey onstage wobble and his unforgettable crazy laugh will be missed but will never be forgotten.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
And don’t forget to book a table at the bijou Il Piccolo restaurant, comprising just nine tables to offer—in the spirit of Violino d’Oro more broadly—subtle, meticulously executed riffs on classic Venetian fare and the flavors of the lagoon.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
With their wireless guitars, Bobby Guerrero, also known as El Gallo, and Zapata weaved through the crowd playing psychedelic guitar riffs.
—Ivan Kashinsky, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
Written by Morello, the song features his haunting vocals and signature captivating guitar riffs.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025
During the decade since, even more home cooks have been in a committed relationship with creative riffs like Marry Me Chicken Soup, Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad, and Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
Throughout the performance, Clarkson could be heard delivering some stellar vocal riffs in between the actor’s pearls of wisdom.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Williams and Antonoff closed out the event with a joint performance backed by Bleachers, blending their catalogs into a soulful set jam-packed with saxophone solos and expansive riffs.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
His timeless riffs and solos, the billowing smoke coming from his Les Paul, the rockets shooting from his headstock, his cool spacey onstage wobble and his unforgettable crazy laugh will be missed but will never be forgotten.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
And don’t forget to book a table at the bijou Il Piccolo restaurant, comprising just nine tables to offer—in the spirit of Violino d’Oro more broadly—subtle, meticulously executed riffs on classic Venetian fare and the flavors of the lagoon.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
With their wireless guitars, Bobby Guerrero, also known as El Gallo, and Zapata weaved through the crowd playing psychedelic guitar riffs.
—Ivan Kashinsky, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
Written by Morello, the song features his haunting vocals and signature captivating guitar riffs.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025
During the decade since, even more home cooks have been in a committed relationship with creative riffs like Marry Me Chicken Soup, Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad, and Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
Throughout the performance, Clarkson could be heard delivering some stellar vocal riffs in between the actor’s pearls of wisdom.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riffs
Noun
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The mid-century offered more literal interpretations of cave living, from The Flintstones (1960) to the villainous Bond lair, often hidden within or carved into cliffs.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
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Without an international framework, commercial ventures must navigate a patchwork of national laws and evolving interpretations of space ownership.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Brazil is divided by five major regions, each widely known for its specific culture, climate, language variations, and landscapes.—
Jade Moyano,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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The line spans ready-to-wear pieces such as knitwear, jersey tops and denim, as well as accessories like canvas totes and variations of the Bou bag.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Does Lynne do many takes and improvise on set?—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
3 Nov. 2025
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On Friday, a big defensive play by Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Kiké Hernández and an agonizing baserunning mistake by Toronto’s Addison Barger ended the game, setting up a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Saturday.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Larger versions of these waves have been seen before, typically linked to solar flares, but the smaller, ever-present twisting kind had remained elusive — until now.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Other stars like Lisa Rinna, Tyra Banks, Kerri Colby, Trey Parker and more stars rocked versions of the head-turning number.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riffs. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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