variants
or elliptic
1
as in cryptic
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the poet's elliptical style is such that the reader often senses that an allusion is being made—but to what exactly?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
his elliptical replies can seem rude to some people, but that's just his way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 elliptical
The last three full moons of 2025, coming in early October, November and December, will be supermoons — appearing at closest point to Earth in the body's elliptical orbit, or perigee, according to NASA.
—
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Options for tracking include basics like biking, running, and walking, as well as a number of different sports such as basketball, pickleball, and soccer, and other activities like elliptical workouts, high-intensity interval training, pilates, and yoga.
—PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025
Based on Denis Johnson’s award-winning novella, this artful, elliptical tale of one ordinary man’s life (Edgerton) in the early 20th century has already received rave reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival.
—Tolly Wright, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
As per the press release, these included small, circular protrusions or bumps, elliptical protrusions with a fingerprint-like pattern, and a third set of large, round marks.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Options for tracking include basics like biking, running, and walking, as well as a number of different sports such as basketball, pickleball, and soccer, and other activities like elliptical workouts, high-intensity interval training, pilates, and yoga.
—PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025
Based on Denis Johnson’s award-winning novella, this artful, elliptical tale of one ordinary man’s life (Edgerton) in the early 20th century has already received rave reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival.
—Tolly Wright, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
As per the press release, these included small, circular protrusions or bumps, elliptical protrusions with a fingerprint-like pattern, and a third set of large, round marks.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elliptical
Adjective
-
The cryptic video came after one of the ugliest stretches yet in Cardi and Minaj’s decade-long feud.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
This cryptic species, first described in 2001, was among several mammals recorded by trail cameras set up by researchers.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The main use case for an oval Dutch oven is for large cuts of meat like a rack of lamb.—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Wait for the oval green fruits to drop on the ground.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Springsteen obliged, with a statement that was at once concise and powerful.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Bednar’s response was concise, but hard to argue with.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Life is mysterious and ambiguous, and so the film to us, is a beautiful representation of that type of experience that is just not captured very often in movies.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
-
For over a century, the United States has coercively maintained the base against the wishes of the Cuban government, an arrangement prompting political and legal debates surrounding the territory’s ambiguous sovereignty.—
Miriam Pensack,
The Dial,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The brief Bagley lead was filed on behalf of Mathew Shurka, an LGBT advocate who testified in support of Colorado’s law while it was being debated.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Oct. 2025
-
And in what could be even better news—for everyone other than Matthews, anyway—his reign atop the earnings ranking is likely to be brief.—
Brett Knight,
Forbes.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This brings a strange boy (Jade Croot) to their doorstep who draws them into an enigmatic realm where the line between reality and myth begins to blur.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In writer-director Christian Ditter’s glossy take on the fantastical story about the preciousness of time, an enigmatic red-haired girl named Momo (Alexa Goodall) lives inside the amphitheater of an unnamed European city (perhaps closest in look to Rome).—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Asked to assess his own performance afterward, Howard was curt.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The answers Nora gets back from Azad’s father and brother are dismissive, curt, and even threatening.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Related Stories His latest is a blunt cinematic instrument — loud, loaded and bursting with carnage and ideological angst.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In December 2024, Anderson revealed blunt bangs at a screening of her film The Last Showgirl in West Hollywood.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elliptical. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share