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
Robert Houston
mysteriousness
noun
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
Later, when Doyle comes into some mysterious bags of cash, and heads toward the mainland with a bottle of booze, a boat, and one last chance to go out in a blaze of self-immolation, Farrell manages to mix dread and adrenaline into every silent expression.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
The mysterious substance makes up roughly 27 percent of the universe, but scientists don’t know its composition.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Since the loss of one of Hollywood’s greats, fans have had questions about how Diane Keaton died and the mysterious cause of her death.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2025
In the area surrounding South Africa’s Kruger National Park, a mysterious killer begins executing local poachers.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
The mysterious substance makes up roughly 27 percent of the universe, but scientists don’t know its composition.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Since the loss of one of Hollywood’s greats, fans have had questions about how Diane Keaton died and the mysterious cause of her death.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2025
In the area surrounding South Africa’s Kruger National Park, a mysterious killer begins executing local poachers.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mysterious. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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