ricocheting

variants also ricochetting
present participle of ricochet
as in bouncing
to strike and fly off at an angle the ball ricocheted off the fielder's glove and went over the fence for a home run

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ricocheting Neon lights bathed the arena as fans dressed as hot dogs, hamburgers, pharaohs and candy canes danced in their seats to the bass ricocheting from body to body. Bryan West, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025 Despite the pre-snap penalties on both sides, the refs allowed the play to continue, so Jones ripped a pass high across the middle, only for the ball to go off wide receiver Anthony Gould’s hands before ricocheting off the crossbar and out of bounds. James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025 Malone had shot once at Dickman, with the bullet hitting the squad car’s right front fender and ricocheting into the passenger mirror. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 4 Aug. 2025 Groove in the Face of Adversity finds Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble deftly ricocheting from blues, soul and funk to jazz and country on the six-track set, some of which was recorded live. Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ricocheting
bouncing
Verb
  • The resulting cuddle is a touch overzealous, with Mila climbing on top of her brother in the bouncer and bouncing up and down, but her heart is in the right place.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • She’s been homeless for roughly 15 years, bouncing from the streets to shelters to couches and back again.
    Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ricocheting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ricocheting. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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