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

/ ˈrɪdəl /

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

noun

1. a sieve, esp a coarse one used for sand, grain, etc

riddle

²

/ ˈrɪdəl /

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

verb

1. to solve, explain, or interpret (a riddle or riddles)

2. (intr) to speak in riddles

Other Word Forms

• riddler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of riddle¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun redel, redels, Old English rǣdels(e) “counsel, opinion, imagination, riddle” + -els(e) noun suffix; cognate with German Rätsel, 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 crībrum “sieve”; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of riddle¹

Old English hriddel a sieve, variant of hridder ; related to Latin crībrum sieve

Origin of riddle²

Old English rǣdelle, rǣdelse , from rǣd counsel; related to Old Saxon rādislo , German Rätsel

Synonym Study

See puzzle.

Example Sentences

Covino is seemingly more smooth and together, though riddled with insecurities, while Marvin initially appears hapless and vulnerable, with an emotional intelligence that reveals him to be savvier than he first appears.

From Los Angeles Times

Guadagnino’s penchant for taking big, artistic swings and wrapping narratives in riddles will no doubt lend itself to the movie’s thematic framework.

From Salon

Tesla’s robotaxi rollout in Austin has been riddled with glitches, including instances of the vehicles violating traffic laws and even driving into oncoming traffic.

From Los Angeles Times

He has continued ratcheting up false portrayals of dystopian urban hellscapes riddled with crime, even as experts track the link between his language, trickle-down racism and an increase in hate crimes.

From Salon

That leaves the bullpen to finish the job, and injuries and inconsistency continue to riddle the relief corps.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• complexity 
• conundrum 
• dilemma 
• enigma 
• mystery 
• puzzle 
• quandary 
• teaser