rifles 1 of 2

noun

plural of rifle
as in shotguns

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rifles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rifle
as in searches
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 rifles
Verb
With four minutes until penalties, Spain venture forward, Cesc Fabregas slips in Iniesta, who rifles it home to win the World Cup. — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026 Before Poeltl can complete the double-team, Towns looks to the 3-point line then rifles a right-handed pass over his own head to Bridges for the easy two under the rim. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rifles
  1. muskets
  2. searches
  3. pistols
  4. combs
  5. scans
  6. rakes
Noun
  • There were about sixty of them aboard the Cuyahoga Packet, and they were armed with swords and muskets.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Back then, students halted studies to pick up rifles, muskets, and bayonets.
    — Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 3 July 2026
Definition of muskets
Verb
  • Discovery isn’t simply about being visible when someone searches anymore.
    — Sarah Tourville, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Despite that disastrous beginning, Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers made no sweeping changes during their bye week, although Harbaugh said nothing was off the table as the team searches for answers.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of searches
Noun
  • Footage shown on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen armed with what appeared to be pistols approaching the church and opening fire, The Associated Press reported.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In 2017, a 16-year-old student armed with a rifle, pistols and a small grenade opened fire at a high school in southern France, wounding three students and the principal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of pistols
Verb
  • Another founder, Sheridan Clayborne, built an AI agent that combs the internet for the best credit card and banking deals, netting him thousands of dollars.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 14 July 2026
  • Zayas also combs through the dark web, a criminal haven on the internet where anonymous threat actors try to cause real-world harm.
    — Heather Abbott, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Definition of combs
Verb
  • If the person behind the counter normally scans a static barcode or QR code printed on it, there is a reasonable chance a digital version can work.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The plan manager generates a QR code by tapping their profile picture > Your Premium > Manage, and the plan member then scans it to complete the process.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of scans
Verb
  • Plus, helpful cleaning gadgets like these pet hair remover carpet rakes and this handy robot vacuum are also steeply discounted right now.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Then, as the afternoon sunshine rakes across the river valley, the group will return to the Birdwing—where canvas and paints await, according to a news release.
    — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of rakes

Browse Nearby Words

riflemen
rifles
rifling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rifles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rifles. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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