riffs

plural of riff
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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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 riffs Behind the heavy riffs and battered drums is a think piece about the anxiety that can come with success and the crippling doubt of imposter syndrome. Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026 Moon Bar’s menu offers the classics, as well as riffs on those drinks, like the addition of miso shiso honey to an old fashioned. Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026 McCollough thought Watts was a comedic genius, and the pair shared a similar sense of humor, establishing their own bits and improvisational riffs. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 Diners hop from neighborhood to neighborhood sampling everything from upscale tasting menus to casual comfort-food riffs. Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 12 Aug. 2026 John Carpenter’s dazzling epic riffs on everything from Howard Hawks to crime serials. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 Across 17 tracks, guitar riffs curdle into sheets of distortion, melodies dissolve into electronic hiss, and grooves are chronically interrupted by fresh rhythmic detours. Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 Surf-rock riffs, punctuated with pockets of silence, eventually slacken in tempo for a glorious, slo-mo finish. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 The room is overtaken with projections, scenes of bustling New York traffic paired with bachelor-pad-like guitar riffs. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riffs
Noun
  • Under certain interpretations of the 1963 rule, courts are not allowed to weigh whether a merger might make competition stronger overall.
    Shubha Ghosh, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Different interpretations can lead to vastly different decisions, behaviors and eventual outcomes.
    Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Its software can detect those variations and adjust each brick’s position accordingly.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Throughout different variations of this question in previous iterations of this poll, Stafford had only been mentioned once.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Almost every day, a news story about a film professional whose decision to prioritize trans solidarity or Palestinian solidarity brings a rash of reactionary takes.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Herzog’s matter-of-fact filming style (which includes some long takes and awkward pans) has little evocative power.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Machine aerators are rolled over the lawn like a mower, and handheld versions are stepped on like a shovel.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Silicon-photonics chips can move data using light instead of electrical signals, but conventional versions are rigid and opaque.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Riffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riffs. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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