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
Woo said Spencer had at least one handgun and one rifle among possible additional weapons. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026 Deepening security, humanitarian crisis In a sign of the continuing security concerns, Haitian police on Saturday arrested Orlando resident Claudin Sainvilus, 45, after allegedly finding an AR-15 rifle and tactical equipment in his luggage. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 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
  • Investigators did not find Handal’s fingerprints or DNA on the shotgun or ammunition.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Out of the shotgun, Willis targeted Delane again and hit wide receiver Ryan Miller for a 10-yard gain.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of shotgun
Verb
  • In the case of the Ratepayer Protection Act, Republicans were searching for an answer to Democratic attacks on data centers and the higher energy prices consumers fear will come from their construction.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The letter also points to reports on statements from officials such as FBI Director Kash Patel, who claimed at the time that the shooter had searched for apps that tracked ICE agents’ locations.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 29 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
  • Apply a pump or two of mousse, then comb the product through your hair with your fingers.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Hu’s team set out to answer those questions by combing through previous research on exercise and blood pressure.
    — Currie Engel, HEALTH, 27 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
  • After you are done raking leaves there is plenty to do with the family around town.
    — Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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 3 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rifle

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