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rifle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of riflenext
as in shotgun

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rifle

2 of 2

verb

ˈrī-fəl How to pronounce rifle (audio)
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Noun
Following his arrest, authorities found a semiautomatic rifle, five rifle magazines, about 190 rounds of ammunition, pepper spray, an entrenchment tool, and about 30 knives, according to the affidavit. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026 Searches of Kramer, his hotel room and his home turned up a semiautomatic rifle, five rifle magazines — two loaded and three capable of holding 30 rounds each — and 190 rounds of rifle ammunition, according to the complaint. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 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 See All Example Sentences for rifle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rifle
  1. shotgun
  2. search
  3. musket
  4. comb
  5. flintlock
  6. rake
  7. smoothbore
  8. blunderbuss
Noun
  • The Trojans ran the ball from shotgun with a tight end (or two) assisting while completing passes off play-action — with RPOs and quick passes to negate Mizzou’s rush.
    — PJ Green September 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Herbert dropped back into shotgun and sent Tre’ Harris in motion from right to left.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of shotgun
Verb
  • While waiting for the prisoners to emerge out of the federal courthouse elevators, attorneys were seen searching online to quickly familiarize themselves with the case, which has already led to four convictions in May.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Residents can also search for a vaccination clinic through My Turn, the state’s vaccine scheduling and information site.
    — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of search
Noun
  • The ink came from the buds of oak leaves, swollen to the size of musket balls by the eggs of wasps.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The alleged texts between the boys, who attended Switzerland Point Middle School, contained information about building a shotgun and musket, as well as obtaining zip ties, per the arrest report.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of musket
Verb
  • Imagine sneaking into a math library and combing through every mathematical text ever written.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Officials are searching the wreckage and combing through maintenance logbooks and security footage.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of comb
Noun
  • Smoke billowed from his flintlock and Rhoades didn’t see where the buck ran after the shot.
    — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Modern gun technologies are far, far more deadly than the one-shot flintlocks of the 18th century—shouldn’t that matter?
    — Robert J. Spitzer, Time, 6 June 2023
Definition of flintlock
Verb
  • Sow the bahia seeds and lightly rake them into the ground or cover with about a half inch of lawn soil.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Story’s unproductive 10 rehab games with Triple-A Worcester, coupled with the rise of top prospect Franklin Arias, a shortstop raking at Triple A, created an echo chamber of angst about Story returning and underperforming.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of rake
Noun
  • China Arms reported that the Type 99B retains the Type 99 family’s 125 mm smoothbore gun, autoloader and three-person crew configuration.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
  • At least three states — Hawaii, Ohio and North Dakota — treat a smoothbore musket the same as an AK-47 or AR-15.
    — Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Definition of smoothbore
Noun
  • Trump would also stop treating the Europeans as enemies with his blunderbuss tariffs.
    — Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Cost cutting ‘blunderbuss’ DOGE is part of a long line of presidential efforts to take an ax to the administrative state.
    — Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Definition of blunderbuss

Browse Nearby Words

riffs
rifle
rifled
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Cite this Entry

“Rifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rifle. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rifle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rifle

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