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
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Verb
-
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets, including Ahangarani, who searches in vain for a friend in Tehran’s Revolution Square as police crack violently down on protestors.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
Now imagine that two years from now, your target customer never searches for your category at all.—
Zac Brandenberg,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
But that hasn’t stopped out-of-state reenactors from worrying their muskets will be confiscated at the George Washington Bridge, says Justin Costantino, adjutant of the Long Island Companies of the 3rd New York Regiment.—
Allen G. Breed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
Flack, who was involved in the excavation, told Fox News Digital the most significant finds included three British gunflints from the Revolutionary War era, which were used to spark gunpowder in muskets.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After his teenage son goes missing, Daniel combs the depths of the Vistula River day and night, caught in a grueling, endless routine and torn between the dread of a fatal leap and the fragile hope that his son may still be alive.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 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,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Look for a service that monitors all three major credit bureaus, scans the dark web and alerts you to suspicious changes tied to your identity.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
In addition to the two deputies stationed inside the board room during meetings, the sheriff’s office also scans bags and uses a magnetometer for visitors.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Participants are encouraged to bring their own shovel, gloves, and rakes as limited tools will be provided at the event.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The bill, introduced by Democrats in Connecticut, would effectively ban most Glock-style pistols that can be converted into a machine gun.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Following that memo, the USPS proposed a new rule in April that would allow people to mail firearms like pistols and revolvers.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rifles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rifles. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
