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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shotgun
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rifle
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
At least four people are dead and several others were injured after a man crashed a vehicle into a Michigan church, opened fire with a rifle, and set the building ablaze during Sunday service, authorities said.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, USA Today, 28 Sep. 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
They were critically injured when a sniper armed with a rifle opened fire at the ICE Field Office building from a nearby rooftop.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
At least four people are dead and several others were injured after a man crashed a vehicle into a Michigan church, opened fire with a rifle, and set the building ablaze during Sunday service, authorities said.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, USA Today, 28 Sep. 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
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The cooler will be searched and tagged at the gate.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Oct. 2025
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The private archeological company exclusively searches for treasure and artifacts from the 1715 Treasure Fleet, a fleet of Spanish ships that sank off the coast of Florida in 1715 while carrying massive amounts of precious cargo, per the organization’s official website.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Not like, say, Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust, a six-time 20-goal scorer who has rode shotgun next to Sidney Crosby over the years and figures to be available for trade.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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But now players are bouncing parkour-style horizontally down corridors and scaling multiple stories for a close-range shotgun blast at whim.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the two stop, Wallen asked the officer to comb his hair before taking any photos.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Oct. 2025
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Detectives, according to police officials, are interviewing witnesses and combing through surveillance video in an effort to identify suspects.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
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The framers of the U.S. Constitution lived in an age of muskets and messengers, when war moved slowly and left time for Congress and the president to confer.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Absent Karen’s presence to hold the fire, however, all eyes are laser-focused on the comings and goings of Stacey Rusch, who is raked through the coals on her reunion debut.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
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Remove infested plants and rake out any debris.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The flintlock coughed a lot of smoke, but Zutterman heard the 270-grain roundball smack the buck.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
2 Oct. 2025
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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
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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
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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 9 Oct. 2025.
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