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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shotgun
Related Words
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 rifle
Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The tip indicated that Shockley planned a shooting, had access to an AR-15 rifle and had ordered a bulletproof vest.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2025
Right-hander Tanner Gordon retired the first two hitters, but the D-backs rifled out nine consecutive two-out hits and scored eight runs.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rifle
Verb
No officers were injured during the incident and a rifle not belonging to law enforcement was later recovered at the scene.
—Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The tip indicated that Shockley planned a shooting, had access to an AR-15 rifle and had ordered a bulletproof vest.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Three snaps later, Mahomes rifled a back-shoulder touchdown pass to Jason Brownee.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2025
Right-hander Tanner Gordon retired the first two hitters, but the D-backs rifled out nine consecutive two-out hits and scored eight runs.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rifle
Verb
-
With leaves still clinging to the trees, Arne Slot had overseen four straight defeats, prompting searching questions to be asked of the head coach, the club’s summer transfer strategy, senior players and everything in between.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
While deputies searched the shelter, a man fell through the ceiling and was immediately detained, Enriquez said.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Facing second-and-5 from the shotgun, Patrick Mahomes looked for Noah Gray on a crosser.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Dawson said that every other team that runs their offense primarily out of the shotgun has a similar run-game scheme and philosophy.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hundreds of volunteers combed fields and streets, posting fliers and canvassing neighborhoods, their eyes peeled for any sign of the small blonde girl.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
As part of those investigations, his team combed through thousands of terabytes of abhorrent pictures.—
Charlotte Alter,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some of them waged it, encamping with the armies, cooking, cleaning, and nursing, and, in a few exceptional cases, grabbing muskets themselves.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Lastly, players have ranged weapons such as the fast firing bow called the Hankyu, long ranged Yumi, bombs and Tangeshima, or musket.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What if your fall clean-up could involve less raking and more pumpkin spice lattes?—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
-
In Milwaukee, there actually isn't any legislation that requires a resident to rake leaves that end up on their property from neighbors, the city Department of Public Works confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The flintlock coughed a lot of smoke, but Zutterman heard the 270-grain roundball smack the buck.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The flintlock pistol that Torres is given by the Yautja to fight his fellow prisoners is known by Predator fans as the Raphael Adolini 1715 pistol for an engraved plate that says just that.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
This tank is potentially equipped with a 130mm smoothbore gun.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Guns are a part of American life, and have been since the very beginning, from the matchlock muskets arming the earliest colonies to the Colt revolvers and Winchester rifles of the Old West to the Glock handgun of today.—
Kyle Mizokami,
Popular Mechanics,
7 Mar. 2018
-
First-generation matchlock rifles, tanks, and aircraft had major limitations but improved over time.—
Paul Scharre,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rifle. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share