Synonyms for riddle
ˈrɪd lrid·dle

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. riddlenoun

   Conundrum, a word of unknown origin, signifies some question or statement in which some hidden and fanciful resemblance is involved, the answer often depending upon a pun; an enigma is a dark saying; a paradox is a true statement that at first appears absurd or contradictory; a problem is something thrown out for solution; puzzle (from oppose) referred originally to the intricate arguments by which disputants opposed each other in the old philosophic schools. The riddle is an ambiguous or paradoxical statement with a hidden meaning to be guessed by the mental acuteness of the one to whom it is proposed; the riddle is not so petty as the conundrum, and may require much acuteness for its answer; a problem may require simply study and scholarship, as a problem in mathematics; a puzzle may be in something other than verbal statement, as a dissected map or any perplexing mechanical contrivance. Both enigma and puzzle may be applied to any matter difficult of answer or solution, enigma conveying an idea of greater dignity, puzzle applying to something more commonplace and mechanical; there are many dark enigmas in human life and in the course of providence; the location of a missing object is often a puzzle.

   Synonyms:
   conundrum, enigma, paradox, problem, puzzle

   Antonyms:
   answer, axiom, explanation, proposition, solution

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. riddle

   Synonyms:
   puzzle, enigma, ambiguity, problem, paradox

   Antonyms:
   solution, explanation, statement, proposition, axiom

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. riddle, conundrum, enigma, brain-teasernoun

   a difficult problem

   Synonyms:
   brain-teaser, enigma, closed book, secret, conundrum, mystery

2. riddleverb

   a coarse sieve (as for gravel)

   Synonyms:
   brain-teaser, enigma, conundrum

3. riddleverb

   pierce with many holes

   "The bullets riddled his body"

   Synonyms:
   screen, pervade, permeate, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue

4. riddleverb

   set a difficult problem or riddle

   "riddle me a riddle"

   Synonyms:
   screen, pervade, permeate, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue

5. riddle, screenverb

   separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff

   Synonyms:
   test, imbue, diffuse, penetrate, permeate, sieve, interpenetrate, pervade, screen, block out, sort, shield, screen out

6. permeate, pervade, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue, riddleverb

   spread or diffuse through

   "An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration"; "music penetrated the entire building"; "His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks"

   Synonyms:
   fall into place, circulate, spread, infiltrate, interpenetrate, sink in, soak, penetrate, bottom, disperse, circularize, propagate, pass around, spread out, filter, come home, disseminate, perforate, dawn, hue, click, diffuse, broadcast, screen, distribute, percolate, fan out, circularise, get across, fathom, imbue, get through, permeate, pervade

7. riddleverb

   speak in riddles

   Synonyms:
   screen, pervade, permeate, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue

8. riddleverb

   explain a riddle

   Synonyms:
   screen, pervade, permeate, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue

Matched Categories

1. • Communicate
   • Penetrate
   • Pierce
   • Puzzle
   • Sift
   • Solve

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. riddlenoun

   Synonyms:
   enigma, puzzle, dark problem, puzzling question

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. riddlenoun

   Synonyms:
   enigma, puzzle, problem, rebus, crux, conundrum, paradox

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "riddle":

   enigma, conundrum, puzzle, mystery, clue

How to pronounce riddle?

How to say riddle in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use riddle in a sentence?

1. Albert Einstein:

   There was this huge world out there, independent of us human beings and standing before us like a great, eternal riddle, at least partly accessible to our inspection and thought. The contemplation of that world beckoned like a liberation.

2. Lee Berger:

   The discovery of a single skull of a child, in such a remote location within the cave system adds mystery as to how these many remains came to be in these remote, dark spaces of the Rising Star Cave system, it is just another riddle among many that surround this fascinating extinct human relative.

3. Winston Churchill:

   I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.

4. Sir Winston Churchill, Radio speech, 1939:

   I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma: but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.

5. Chris Casey:

   The ring ... really helped us to solve this riddle.