as in mysteries
something hard to understand or explain
his motives for starting an argument with the coach were a complete riddle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in drills
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 suffuses
to spread throughout
the newspaper exposé revealed a gaming commission that is riddled with corruption
Synonyms & Similar 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 riddles
Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The quintessentially British film also charts the adventures of a group of friends from different walks of life residing in a grand castle-like building and solving riddles together.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Dark matter has remained one of the biggest riddles in modern physics.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025
At least one of these riddles has been solved!
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Steven R. Furlanetto, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
Representing himself in the case, Routh submitted three filings to the court, all of which were filled with unusual sentiments and riddles with typos.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The quintessentially British film also charts the adventures of a group of friends from different walks of life residing in a grand castle-like building and solving riddles together.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Dark matter has remained one of the biggest riddles in modern physics.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025
At least one of these riddles has been solved!
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Any trip to the dark night skies of our Southern California deserts reveals a vista full of wonder and mystery — riddles that astrophysicists like myself spend our days unraveling.
—Steven R. Furlanetto, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riddles
Noun
-
For nearly five decades, NASA's twin Voyager probes have plumbed the cosmos in search of answers to some of astronomy's most perplexing mysteries about our solar system and its place in the wider universe.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
While researchers will continue to study the Galilean moons with Juno, the spacecraft will be joined by others in the coming years, potentially solving even more mysteries in the Jovian system.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Parsons attended Cowboys practices during training camp but has not participated in any team drills.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
After sitting out of Saturday’s team drills with arm soreness, Sanders was a full participant at Monday’s practice, but Flacco took all of the first-team reps during the 11-on-11 portion, according to ESPN.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
An international cult favorite, Lee is revered for the philosophical nerve that suffuses his rigorously inventive melodramas, which variously pick apart the complexities of Korean society.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Like its predecessors, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book will likely be one of Nintendo’s more accessible games, filled with simple puzzles and exploration that don’t require much precision.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The precise physics behind ULXs remains one of astronomy's enduring puzzles, and each galaxy that hosts them, including NGC 7456, can provide key clues.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The sun that hits the electric blinds hardly penetrates the room, the light dances on the walls, predictable yet never the same.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The sun’s light penetrates only a thousand yards down into the ocean.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over time, the fate of the footage has become one of the biggest enigmas in Hollywood history.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Unexplained aerial phenomena, commonly branded as UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and more recently as UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), remain one of history’s most enduring enigmas.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old?—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Riddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riddles. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share