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View synonyms for

riddle

1

[ rid-l ]

noun

  1. a question or statement so framed as to exercise one's ingenuity in answering it or discovering its meaning; conundrum.
  2. a puzzling question, problem, or matter.
  3. a puzzling thing or person.
  4. any enigmatic or dark saying or speech.


verb (used without object)

riddled, riddling.
  1. to propound riddles; speak enigmatically.

riddle

2

[ rid-l ]

verb (used with object)

riddled, riddling.
  1. to pierce with many holes, suggesting those of a sieve:

    to riddle the target.

  2. to fill or affect with (something undesirable, weakening, etc.):

    a government riddled with graft.

  3. to impair or refute completely by persistent verbal attacks:

    to riddle a person's reputation.

  4. to sift through a riddle, as gravel; screen.

noun

  1. a coarse sieve, as one for sifting sand in a foundry.

riddle

1

/ ˈɪə /

noun

  1. a question, puzzle, or verse so phrased that ingenuity is required for elucidation of the answer or meaning; conundrum
  2. a person or thing that puzzles, perplexes, or confuses; enigma
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to solve, explain, or interpret (a riddle or riddles)
  2. intr to speak in riddles
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

riddle

2

/ ˈɪə /

verb

  1. usually foll by with to pierce or perforate with numerous holes

    riddled with bullets

  2. to damage or impair
  3. to put through a sieve; sift
  4. to fill or pervade

    the report was riddled with errors

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a sieve, esp a coarse one used for sand, grain, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ, noun
  • ˈ, noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of riddle1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun redel, redels, Old English ǣ() “counsel, opinion, imagination, riddle” + -els(e) noun suffix; cognate with German äٲ, Dutch raadsel; rede

Origin of riddle2

First recorded before 1100; Middle English noun riddil, Old English hriddel, variant of hridder, hrīder; cognate with German Reiter; akin to Latin īܳ “sieve”; verb derivative of the noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of riddle1

Old English ǣelle, ǣelse , from ǣ counsel; related to Old Saxon , German äٲ

Origin of riddle2

Old English hriddel a sieve, variant of hridder ; related to Latin īܳ sieve
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Synonym Study

See puzzle.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It is only then, once you are still, that a now low, whipping wind, riddled with sand begins pricking and abrading your skin and collecting in the pages of your novel; it is intolerable.

From

He’s a man riddled with contradicting views and tones, as is “The Shrouds.”

From

Reaves has done that — even embracing his part in the meeting with Redick, James and Doncic when the Lakers’ coach leaned on his stars to solve the biggest remaining riddle for the team.

From

The 10% universal tariff is now riddled with exemptions, and the biggest carve outs are for many nations with massive trade surpluses from electronics manufacturing.

From

We had to operate carefully, because the country is riddled with informers and secret police who spy on their own people for the ruling military junta.

From

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