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

It was part arm-workout, part witchcraft—summoning wind on command—and part existential riddle.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The impasse has raised the possibility that the states could sue each other, a path riddled with uncertainty that water managers in both camps have said they hope to avoid.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They described his body as "riddled" with bullets in a post on X, calling it a "state crime, perpetrated under the orders of Daniel Noboa."

Read more on BBC

Now, a rookie who has yet to throw an NFL pass is going to solve that riddle?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Defence barrister Mark Mulholland said Soldier G's statements were "riddled with questions of reliability" and gave "changing accounts" of events on Bloody Sunday.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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