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
  • Back then, students halted studies to pick up rifles, muskets, and bayonets.
    — Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 3 July 2026
  • The new United States needed muskets, cannons, ammunition, uniforms, cloth, food and credit.
    — R. Grant Gilmore III, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
Definition of muskets
Verb
  • Expedia said in June that searches using budget filters have climbed more than 1,200% compared with 12 months ago.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Approaching retirement, Patrick searches with exacting standards for someone to fill his shoes, investing time in mentoring young apprentice Matteo.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of searches
Noun
  • In 2021, thieves entered Goodland Guns’ former location by cutting a hole in the wall and stole five pistols, four shotguns, and two rifles, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Police have said they attacks appeared random and unprovoked, and that officers fired their pistols after ⁠Tasers ​failed to stop the ​woman from advancing toward them with knives.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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
  • Emanuel Maiberg talks to an employee at the warehouse where Amazon scans and destroys books for AI training.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • One camera is used for AI perception and scans your lawn to identify objects and other lawn conditions, while the other two work in tandem as a stereo 3D vision system for real-time mapping.
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of scans
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
Definition of rakes

Browse Nearby Words

riflemen
rifles
rifling
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Cite this Entry

“Rifles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rifles. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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