From the M-W Editors
enigmatic was our Word of the Day on 10/25/2012. Hear the podcast!
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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
Did You Know?
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
see enigma
First Known Use: 1609
Synonym Discussion of enigmatic
ENIGMATIC Defined for English Language Learners
enigmatic
playDefinition 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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