rifling

[rahy-fling] / ˈraɪ flɪŋ /

VERB

ransack

Synonyms

STRONGEST

rip

STRONG

burglarize burgle despoil grab gut loot pillage plunder rob rummage sack strip take trash waste

WEAK

go through rip off smash and grab tip over

Antonyms

STRONG

build give offer protect receive save

WEAK

order organize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But she has deep knowledge of women’s pay: As an economist, she spent years rifling through boxes of surveys and personnel records and tracking down data to document women’s changing role in the workplace.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

And rifling marks on its driving band confirm it had been fired.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Jovic stuck the knife in with four minutes remaining, rifling home a powerful low finish which gave the hosts a margin of victory which didn't truly reflect the balance of play.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

When she wasn’t glued to her phone, she was rifling through the racks at thrift stores or ordering Hello Kitty memorabilia online.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

Emma, Finn, and Chess all whirled toward the older girl, who was rifling through one shoebox full of money after another.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix