1
as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand
grammatical rules that seem arcane to generations of students who were never taught grammar in the first place
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2
as in cryptic
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the rebate form uses arcane language, the only purpose of which seems to be to disqualify buyers from actually getting a rebate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
my predecessor in this job obviously had his own arcane system for filing things, and so I haven't a clue as to where anything is
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arcane
As the lesson droned on, the huge, inevitable poster on the classroom wall gave the students something arcane to look at and study as an alternative to dozing off and getting a tongue-lashing and possibly a piece of chalk tossed at your head.
—
David Szondy
august 27, New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
With Donald Trump’s outbursts amping up attention on the Federal Reserve and markets hanging with bated breath on what Chair Jerome Powell is going to do, arcane monetary policy has moved to center stage.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 24 Aug. 2025
Because of an arcane league rule, Smith was not permitted to take the Heat’s one available two-way contract.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Every chapter is loaded with arcane information delivered in an engaging style.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
David Szondy
august 27, New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025
With Donald Trump’s outbursts amping up attention on the Federal Reserve and markets hanging with bated breath on what Chair Jerome Powell is going to do, arcane monetary policy has moved to center stage.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 24 Aug. 2025
Because of an arcane league rule, Smith was not permitted to take the Heat’s one available two-way contract.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Every chapter is loaded with arcane information delivered in an engaging style.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane
Adjective
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While crypto trading has a steep learning curve, anyone with a wallet can start trading predictions without any esoteric expertise.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Unfortunately, tenure, even in the best schools, gets rewarded to professors who write articles filled with complex math or esoteric theories in sociology and psychology.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Finally, the cryptic messages on the bullet cartridges did indeed seem to be an attempt to gain status online.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
20 Sep. 2025
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Kansas City’s newest speakeasy is born out of a fantastical myth and a true — though somewhat cryptic — history.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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It’s often said that, in New Orleans’ French Quarter, the dead outnumber the living, that residual energy from the past continues to inhabit the neighborhood’s 300-year-old buildings and mysterious courtyards.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
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When one of his old enemies resurfaces and his daughter is abducted, the movie turns into a game of cat and mouse with car chases aplenty as well as the involvement of militias and mysterious organizations.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In other marine animals, parasites can have profound effects.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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For Watt, the experience of working with his rock heroes was profound.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Leaving out any vital details or stating the requirements in ambiguous ways is going to undermine the result.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Obviously this wasn’t the best call, regardless of the somewhat ambiguous state of Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship at the time.—
Olivia Petter,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In Completedworks’ spring 2026 presentation, the Texan actor and model took the stage as Miss Edie Grey, a television clairvoyant and mystic extraordinaire that can trace the history of objects with her magical touch.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
20 Sep. 2025
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Yet Blanc’s real faith lies in the nearly mystic quality involved in seeing what the human animal is capable of.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Sunway was transformed by Jeffrey Cheah from an obscure tin-mining company over the five decades into one of Malaysia’s biggest conglomerates with interests in construction, education, healthcare, infrastructure and real estate.—
Jonathan Burgos,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Robinson also explained the obscure engravings found on bullet casings that were left behind at the scene.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Law, the first guest of the night, was asked by Fallon about his uncanny ability to predict the future in his film roles in the past.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
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During an acting career lasting more than 60 years, Redford became a Hollywood icon with an uncanny knack for finding the perfect scene partner.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcane. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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