Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun riddle

2 senses of riddle

Sense 1
riddle, conundrum, enigma, brain-teaser -- (a difficult problem)
       => problem -- (a question raised for consideration or solution; "our homework consisted of ten problems to solve")

Sense 2
riddle -- (a coarse sieve (as for gravel))
       => sieve, screen -- (a strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb riddle

6 senses of riddle

Sense 1
riddle -- (pierce with many holes; "The bullets riddled his body")
       => pierce -- (make a hole into; "The needle pierced her flesh")

Sense 2
riddle -- (set a difficult problem or riddle; "riddle me a riddle")
       => perplex, vex, stick, get, puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose, bewilder, flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel, amaze, dumbfound -- (be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This question really stuck me")

Sense 3
riddle, screen -- (separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff)
       => sift, sieve, strain -- (separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour")

Sense 4
permeate, pervade, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue, riddle -- (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")
       => penetrate, perforate -- (pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance; "The bullet penetrated her chest")

Sense 5
riddle -- (speak in riddles)
       => communicate, intercommunicate -- (transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist")

Sense 6
riddle -- (explain a riddle)
       => solve, work out, figure out, puzzle out, lick, work -- (find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem")