sphinx

noun

ˈsfiŋ(k)s 

plural sphinxes or sphinges ˈsfin-ˌjēz 

1

a

Sphinx : a winged female monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body and noted for killing anyone unable to answer its riddle

b

: an enigmatic or mysterious person

she is a sphinx whose features hold a blank fascination

2

: an ancient Egyptian image in the form of a recumbent lion having a man's head, a ram's head, or a hawk's head

sphinxlike

ˈsfiŋ(k)s-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of sphinx in a Sentence

a statue of the Sphinx

Recent Examples on the Web

The film, a follow-up to her eponymous memoir, would offer a window into the first lady’s private, sphinx-like world, in contrast to that of her bombastic, spotlight-seeking husband. —Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

Mermaids, centaurs, satyrs, and sphinxes. —Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

Enter Puma’s current Egypt kit, which features ‘motifs of sphinx, pyramids, and sand dunes’. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Coel, the boundary-pushing revelation from I May Destroy You, is a perfect foil, hiding Lori’s feelings behind her deadpan delivery, unblinking sphinx-like stare and wary body language but poised to shoot barbs when the moment calls for them. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Sphinx, Sphix

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sphinx

• sphinx moth

Rhymes for sphinx

• binks
• blinks
• chinks
• drinks
• hinks
• inks
• jinks
• jinx
• kinks
• links
• lynx
• minks

Kids Definition

sphinx

noun

ˈsfiŋ(k)s 

plural sphinxes or sphinges ˈsfin-ˌjēz 

: an ancient Egyptian image having the body of a lion and the head of a man, ram, or hawk