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 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 Guests may see beverages like an old fashioned featuring West Bottoms Whiskey, as well as fruit-forward riffs on other classic cocktails. Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026 Singer-songwriter and guitarist Nick DiSalvo’s plaintive vocals and snaking riffs can gently suggest thoughtful indie rock or tense up to show off more doom-adjacent roots. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riffs
Noun
  • The role of China’s reserve system can complicate interpretations of global stock numbers.
    SJ Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Hence both interpretations were dangerously misleading, because both left it to non-Jews to define Jewish history.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That approach aims to reduce variations that can emerge from manual manufacturing processes.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • OpenAI, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services and other vendors have been developing variations of this model.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Several symbolic scenes, similarly unfolding in sinuous long takes—a ritualistic repetition of local habits at the junk yard, a formal dance of non-seduction at a luncheonette with a jukebox—lay bare the town’s ingrained and unyielding mores.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Midnight Boys eventually filled out its host chairs with Adeniran, a Marvel expert who got his start at The Ringer making social content, and Ahlman, the show’s producer, whose takes were too good to stay behind the scenes.
    Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Today was asparagus, but I was torn between heirloom tomato or zucchini versions, too.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Skibitskiy said more modern versions of the missiles had an extended range of 800km, but often landed 15-19km off target.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Riffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riffs. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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