Synonyms of rifle

rifle 1 of 2

noun

as in shotgun

Related Words

• shotgun
• musket
• flintlock
• smoothbore
• firelock
• blunderbuss
• matchlock
• harquebus
• culverin
• carbine
• pistol
• breechloader
• fieldpiece
• semiautomatic
• handgun
• machine gun
• revolver
• submachine gun
• assault rifle
• machine pistol
• assault weapon
• self-loader
• derringer
• tommy gun
• repeater
• AK-47
• automatic
• firearm
• gun
• six-shooter
• twenty-two
• sidearm
• zip gun
• six-gun
• speargun
• rod
• roscoe
• gat
• small arm
• forty-five
• arm
• piece
• heat

rifle

2 of 2

verb

ˈrī-fəl 

as in to search

to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something

rifled the desk drawer in search of the insurance policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• search
• comb
• rake
• scan
• hunt (through)
• find
• survey
• dredge
• dig (through)
• locate
• troll
• examine
• investigate
• rummage
• scour
• explore
• inspect
• sort (through)
• track (down)
• ransack
• check (out)
• audit
• run down
• ascertain
• review
• find out
• discover
• prospect
• shake down
• detect
• scrutinize
• poke (around)
• probe
• ferret (out)
• pat down
• hit (on or upon)
• determine
• learn
• skirmish
• study
• grub (about)
• look over
• frisk
• glance (over)
• get
• scare up
• descry
• snoop
• browse
• peruse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hide
• lose
• abandon
• ignore
• neglect

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rifle

Noun

In those days, wilderness began just beyond the doorstep of many plantation homes, so Holt was soon ranging farther and farther away with shotgun and rifle. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Colin Gray, the Georgia father convicted after giving his teenage son the rifle used in a deadly high school shooting, is asking for a new trial less than a week after he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

Verb

Vinícius exchanged passes with Bruno Guimarães on the left flank, took a few touches to cut around Neil El Aynaoui and rifled a right-footed shot past the outstretched arm of Yassine Bounou for his 10th international goal. — ABC News, 13 June 2026

The woman’s daughter showed investigators video footage showing Robinson rifling through the woman’s drawers, selecting items and hiding them on her body. — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 5 June 2026