Definition of enigmatic
: of, relating to, or resembling an enigma : mysterious
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Examples of enigmatic in a Sentence
- 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
- 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
- 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
the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history
the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile
Recent Examples of enigmatic from the Web
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Before the Storm eventually introduces its own mystery, centered on a sketchy drug dealer and an enigmatic woman and a conspiracy whose tendrils stretch into the local government of Arcadia Bay.
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One of Atkinson’s first acts as a Renwick curator was to propose the idea of an exhibition based on the festival, and then to figure out a way to capture such an enigmatic event inside a (relatively) small 19th-century building.
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Here's what Hulu has to say about the project: Little Fires Everywhere follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.
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Witherspoon and Washington will be producing the series, which follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter whose lives are upended.
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The deceased brother was Andy Kaufman, the enigmatic performance artist who had died from cancer in 1984.
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There are many suggestions as to the reasoning behind this enigmatic, yet important element of our tradition.
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But the appearance of the enigmatic pitcher, fully yoked, wearing a baseball glove caught the world’s attention.
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Their names are in history books, their faces on money—and with the 24/7 news cycle, we are reminded of their constant, enigmatic presence on a daily basis.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enigmatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Origin of enigmatic Isn't a Mystery
When it comes to things that aren't clearly understandable, you have a wide range of word choices, including dark, enigmatic, cryptic, and equivocal. Of these, dark is the most sinister, implying an imperfect or clouded revelation, often with ominous overtones. Enigmatic (which traces back to Greek ainissesthai, meaning "to speak in riddles") emphasizes a puzzling, mystifying quality, whereas cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. Equivocal is the best choice for language that is left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.
Origin and Etymology of enigmatic
enigmatic Synonyms
Synonyms
ambiguous, arcane, cryptic, dark, deep, elliptical (or elliptic), equivocal, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, obscure, occult, opaque;
Antonyms
accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal;
Near Antonyms
comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, knowable, legible, pellucid, understandable;
Related Words
abstruse, esoteric, recondite;
cloaked, concealed, disguised, masked, shrouded;
cloudy, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, muddy, shaded, shadowlike, shadowy, sphinxlike;
indefinite, inexact, inexplicit, noncommittal, questionable, unclear, uncertain, undefined, undetermined, vague;
impenetrable, incomprehensible, indecipherable, inexplicable;
eerie (also eery), uncanny, weird;
baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, unfathomable;
Synonym Discussion of enigmatic
obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable. obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.
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- obscure poems
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- muttered dark hints of revenge
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- a vague sense of obligation
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- enigmatic occult writings
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- cryptic hints of hidden treasure
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- an ambiguous directive
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- moral precepts with equivocal phrasing
ENIGMATIC Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of enigmatic for English Language Learners
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: full of mystery and difficult to understand
Learn More about enigmatic
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See words that rhyme with enigmatic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for enigmatic Spanish Central: Translation of enigmatic Nglish: Translation of enigmatic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of enigmatic for Arabic speakers
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