riddle 1 of 2

noun

ˈri-dᵊl How to pronounce riddle (audio)
Definition of riddlenext
as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain his motives for starting an argument with the coach were a complete riddle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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riddle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in several signs along the highway were riddled by buckshot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to penetrate
to spread throughout the newspaper exposé revealed a gaming commission that is riddled with corruption

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun riddle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of riddle are enigma, mystery, problem, and puzzle. While all these words mean "something which baffles or perplexes," riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.

the riddle of the reclusive pop star

When might enigma be a better fit than riddle?

While the synonyms enigma and riddle are close in meaning, enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.

his suicide remains an enigma

When is mystery a more appropriate choice than riddle?

The words mystery and riddle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.

the mystery of the stone monoliths

When could problem be used to replace riddle?

The synonyms problem and riddle are sometimes interchangeable, but problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.

problems created by high technology

Where would puzzle be a reasonable alternative to riddle?

In some situations, the words puzzle and riddle are roughly equivalent. However, puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.

the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police

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 riddle
Noun
Whether the brand promise of independence survives a business model built on agent territory sales is one of the next riddles for the housing market to solve. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 Compose a Riddle Leave them a riddle or brain teaser in their lunch box and challenge them to figure it out on their own. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
If more work is completed but that work is riddled with errors, productivity isn’t improving. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Kunkel was found guilty in 1995 for the brutal 1986 murder of Gilbert Fassett, whose body was riddled with more than 100 stab wounds. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for riddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riddle
  1. mystery
  2. drill
  3. penetrate
  4. puzzle
  5. pierce
  6. suffuse
  7. enigma
  8. punch
Noun
  • To get to the bottom of the mystery of the article’s spurious dating, Cade and a team of researchers from around the globe sifted through historic reports and observations of geomagnetic activity to set the record straight.
    — Mike McRae October 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In the first, a best-selling mystery author dies, and Benoit Blanc, a charismatic and inquisitive private eye played by Daniel Craig, must investigate.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of mystery
Verb
  • Broncos kicker Wil Lutz drilled a 53-yard field goal in overtime to elevate Denver to a 17-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Public-health and environmental advocates have also raised concerns about drilling near communities, including potential air- and water-quality harms.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of drill
Verb
  • The Biden administration designated Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization in 2024 following requests from Republicans who said the group’s members have penetrated the southern border.
    — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Radar love Each low-flying helicopter is outfitted with a ground penetrating radar (GPR) instrument, one that can detect layering in the near surface, at depths unobservable by orbital radar.
    — Leonard David, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of penetrate
Noun
  • What is a ball maze if not a puzzle that looks like a roadmap?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • These novels are puzzles at their core, and using logic to solve the mystery before it’s revealed in the book is, to me, the main pleasure in reading them.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of puzzle
Verb
  • There is an accumulation of metal fragments around piercing part and gears of can opener.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Cook for 20 minutes, or until the squash falls apart when pierced with a fork.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of pierce
Verb
  • Nacer is quite good at variations of patriarchal obliviousness, and Pebdani suffuses her women with streaks of guilt.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • This is a book suffused with beauty, but climate emergency is its undercurrent.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of suffuse
Noun
  • The enigma of comets and asteroids lured the world’s space agencies into funding a series of robotic probes to study them.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Menopause, despite being a fact of life for most women, is something of a scientific enigma.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of enigma
Verb
  • Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson’s suspension for punching a Buffalo Bills player after a game has been reduced from two games to one, an NFL spokesman said Wednesday.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • For Lee, the true measure of a man is how many other men, and women, want to punch his lights out.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of punch

Phrases Containing riddle

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ridding
riddle
riddled
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Cite this Entry

“Riddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddle. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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