mysterious

adjective

mys·​te·​ri·​ous mi-ˈstir-ē-əs 

1

a

: of, relating to, or constituting mystery

the mysterious ways of God

b

: exciting wonder, curiosity, or surprise while baffling efforts to comprehend or identify : mystifying

heard a mysterious noise

a mysterious stranger

a mysterious plane crash

a mysterious illness

2

: stirred by or attracted to the inexplicable

… to help a mysterious wizard … ward off the end of the world with blood sacrifices.

—Robert Houston

mysteriousness noun

Synonyms

• arcane
• cryptic
• deep
• enigmatic
• enigmatical
• impenetrable
• inscrutable
• mystic
• occult
• uncanny

Examples of mysterious in a Sentence

the mysterious ways of nature

We heard a mysterious noise outside our tent.

He died under mysterious circumstances.

A mysterious illness has been spreading through the city.

There's something mysterious about that old woman.

Her behavior was very mysterious.

Recent Examples on the Web

Then again, scientists are unlikely to be able to resist that mysterious, weird complexity. —Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024

Cabaret follows fictional American writer Clifford Bradshaw and his interactions with the eclectic characters at the seedy Kit Kat Club in Berlin, including the mysterious Emcee and English singer Sally Bowles, whom Clifford strikes up a romance. —Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024

Whatever mysterious affliction had gripped Morikawa was spreading to his fellow chasers, too. —Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024

An invisible logic, mysterious but never precious, presides. —Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024

The mysterious origins behind Vaults 31, 32 and 33 are also revealed. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

About a decade later, Harry Hamilton Johnston learned of the mysterious animal was the o’api and obtained specimens to send back to London. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

This announcement comes about a month after Meghan Markle subtly announced her mysterious new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, which many believe will act as a Goopified version of her old blog, The Tig. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2024

The story picks up pace after Pasha’s disappearance under mysterious circumstances from an apartment in Geneva. —Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

mystery entry 1 + -ous, probably after Middle French mysterieux

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mysterious

• be mysterious

Kids Definition

mysterious

adjective

mys·​te·​ri·​ous mis-ˈtir-ē-əs 

: containing, suggesting, or presenting a mystery

mysterious noises

also : difficult or impossible to understand

the mysterious ways of nature

mysteriously adverb