Synonyms of rifling

rifling

verb

present participle of rifle

as in searching

to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something

rifled the desk drawer in search of the insurance policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• searching
• scanning
• combing
• finding
• raking
• surveying
• rummaging
• scouring
• dredging
• trolling
• locating
• examining
• exploring
• investigating
• hunting (through)
• ransacking
• sorting (through)
• digging (through)
• inspecting
• discovering
• probing
• detecting
• ascertaining
• learning
• auditing
• scrutinizing
• reviewing
• snooping
• tracking (down)
• frisking
• determining
• prospecting
• checking (out)
• running down
• hitting (on or upon)
• finding out
• browsing
• patting down
• studying
• ferreting (out)
• shaking down
• perusing
• getting
• poking (around)
• skirmishing
• looking over
• glancing (over)
• descrying
• grubbing (about)
• scaring up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hiding
• losing
• ignoring
• abandoning
• neglecting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rifling

Canale made 15 clearances, the most of anyone on the pitch, and scored the winning penalty, rifling the ball high into the net past Manuel Neuer. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 30 June 2026

The woman’s daughter showed investigators video footage showing Robinson rifling through the woman’s drawers, selecting items and hiding them on her body. — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 5 June 2026

On solo trips, there’s nothing worse than arriving somewhere and rifling through a mess of clothes; these cubes keep everything organized from lift‑off to landing. — Julie Rousseau, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026

Who better to tell the tale of the city than the man who has spent years rifling through its junk? — Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

Adding to the chaos of the moment, Courtney encountered a bear rifling through the garbage outside. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026

Restaurant workers saw Wyatt rifling through the vehicle, taking things out and looking for something to steal, Batista said. — Nicole Hensley, Houston Chronicle, 2 Jan. 2026

Heise worked her way into the left faceoff circle before rifling a shot just under the crossbar to give the Frost the win and keep Vancouver winless on the road. — CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025

Best All-Time NFL Wide Receivers Starting slow in the NFL matters more than ending the season with a win streak, unless that win streak is rifling off 8-10 wins. — James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025