enigmatic

enig·mat·ic

adjective \ˌe-(ˌ)nig-ˈma-tik also ˌē-(ˌ)nig-\

Definition of ENIGMATIC

: of, relating to, or resembling an enigma : mysterious

— enig·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Variants of ENIGMATIC

enig·mat·ic also enig·mat·i·cal \-ti-kəl\

Examples of ENIGMATIC

1. <the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history>
2. <the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile>
3. Space seethes with an enormous enigmatic energy, and, each second, trillions of cubic light-years more of it materializes from nothingness. —Bob Berman, Astronomy, November 2007
4. You'll recognize them by their enigmatic smile and faraway look as they jog, skate, commute, or wander the aisles of the supermarket. —Consumer Reports, December 2005
5. Despite all that has been written—and surmised—about him, Bill Gates remains the enigmatic ringmaster of the digital circus. —J. D. Reed, People, 15 Mar. 1999

Origin of ENIGMATIC

(see enigma)

First Known Use: 1609

Related to ENIGMATIC

Synonyms

arcane, cryptic, deep, mysterious (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable, mystic, occult, uncanny

Antonyms

accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal

Related Words

dark, darkling, fuzzy, murky, obscure, shadowy, vague; ambiguous, equivocal; imponderable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, unintelligible, unsearchable; inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable; unanswerable, unknowable; metaphysical, mystical, numinous, supernatural; abstruse, esoteric, recondite; baffling, befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, disorienting, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling

Near Antonyms

fathomable, intelligible, understandable; apparent, clear, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

See Synonym Discussion at obscure

Rhymes with ENIGMATIC

achromatic, acrobatic, aerobatic, anabatic, antistatic, aromatic, Asiatic, astigmatic, autocratic, automatic, bureaucratic, charismatic, cinematic, democratic, diplomatic, Eleatic, emblematic, enzymatic, Hanseatic, hieratic, Hippocratic, hydrostatic, kerygmatic, kleptocratic, melismatic, mobocratic, monocratic, morganatic, numismatic, operatic, phallocratic, photostatic, plutocratic, pre-Socratic, problematic, programmatic, symptomatic, systematic, technocratic, theocratic, thermostatic, undogmatic, undramatic