riffle 1 of 2

verb

ˈri-fəl How to pronounce riffle (audio)
Definition of rifflenext
as in to flip
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner Web research is convenient but doesn't offer the tactile pleasures of riffling through heavy old books

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

riffle

2 of 2

noun

as in wavelet

Related Words

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 riffle
Verb
Palm fronds riffled in the hot breeze as the sky darkened and the air smelled, mysteriously, of salad dressing. — Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2024 Keep reading to check out more weekend deals, or head straight to Amazon to riffle through everything else that's on sale right now. — Amy Schulman, PEOPLE.com, 6 May 2022
Noun
Tanks and soldiers with riffles have lined the streets of the Paraguayan capital all week. — Samindra Kunti, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Very often, the single word that completes the thought in a Maclean line is the fly that drops perfectly onto the riffle. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for riffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riffle
  1. flip
  2. wavelet
  3. leaf
  4. curl
  5. thumb
  6. roller
  7. skim
  8. comber
Verb
  • The specialists working on the mission had to ensure the drone could carry a human being without flipping over or swaying excessively, according to the unit.
    — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
  • This year, state Democrats are hoping to maintain their House majority and flip the Senate.
    — Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of flip
Noun
  • Pipe those wavelets of foie gras feculence over to neighboring Surfside, a two-bathroom kind of town with waste pipes galore.
    — Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
  • Its wavelets lap enticingly at our feet, but the breaker that might truly knock the breath out of us never comes.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of wavelet
Verb
  • These emotions are pertinent not only to the plant or leaf itself but also to living matter in its vicinity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Planting a leafed-out, growing hosta from a pot is identical to any other transplanting process.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Definition of leaf
Noun
  • That specific stylist taught her a few techniques to style her hair, including using a dime-sized amount of gel with a quarter-sized amount of leave-in and running it through her curls.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than slicking the head in hair gel, Magallones purposefully keeps the product use to a minimum, allowing for natural curls to come through on top of the head.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • Neon seems to be thumbing its nose at its biggest rival A24 by planning a competing horror film based on the online universe of writing called the SCP Foundation.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This is an entire class of wealthy and unaccountable men thumbing their noses at the American public.
    — Abigail Disney, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of thumb
Noun
  • The ultimate depuffing hack, an ice roller, can take you from puffed out to sculpted.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Read More The Deebot X8 Pro Omni is an excellent roller mopping bot that extends to clean along backboards and furniture.
    — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of roller
Verb
  • This throw-on-and-go design from Grace Karin is a quintessential fall layering piece, with a classic crew neckline, a button-down closure, and a figure-skimming fit that isn’t overly bulky.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2026
  • On the law enforcement side, federal and state authorities are working to find and remove skimming devices.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of skim
Noun
  • In the scope was one of the many tiny fish bones that were found that day, probably belonging to a small comber or a wrasse.
    — Paul Greenberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
  • The destructive combers continued to undermine dwellings near the water’s edge at West Newport Beach.
    — Scott Harrison, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2019
Definition of comber

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Cite this Entry

“Riffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riffle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on riffle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about riffle

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