as in interpretation
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play)
a mock news program with humorous riffs on current events
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riff
Parker confirms that a riff on a classic painkiller cocktail is one of the most popular items on the menu of the team’s latest pop-up bar.
—
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025
Erickson, Stiller and production designer Jeremy Hindle have a knack for building setups that riff on corporations’ uncanny, infantilizing methods of control, yet feel more oblique and mysterious than straight satire.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Jan. 2025
As a riff on another classic dessert (strawberry cheesecake), these cookies have a gooey cream cheese center and bits of fresh strawberry throughout the dough.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2025
Wayne’s muscular guitar riff and electric energy on the song became one of the group’s defining musical moments.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for riff 
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025
Erickson, Stiller and production designer Jeremy Hindle have a knack for building setups that riff on corporations’ uncanny, infantilizing methods of control, yet feel more oblique and mysterious than straight satire.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Jan. 2025
As a riff on another classic dessert (strawberry cheesecake), these cookies have a gooey cream cheese center and bits of fresh strawberry throughout the dough.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2025
Wayne’s muscular guitar riff and electric energy on the song became one of the group’s defining musical moments.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for riff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riff
Noun
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The House Republicans believe that interpretation is incorrect.—
Ashley Oliver,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
3 Feb. 2025
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By the very nature of the work, good interpretation is transparent, and good interpreters are invisible, allowing the original speakers and their words to take center stage.—
Katrina Gulliver,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The nomination marks a variation from Trump's anti-establishment rhetoric.—
Zac Anderson,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
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Weather data from cities across the state suggest that while temperatures are gradually rebounding, variations persist in different regions.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rx also makes a version of their bars with nut butter and oats in place of the dates, which Chou likes too.—
Megan Wahn,
Bon Appétit,
3 Feb. 2025
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His choice of headwear consisted of a miniature version of a hat.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
3 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near riff
Cite this Entry
“Riff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riff. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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