1
as in cryptic
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the huge stone statues on Easter Island are ancient, mysterious, and haunting
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2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the stranger's mysterious prediction
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Recent Examples of mysterious
But the true paranoia is saved for the mysterious, primate-like species called ochi, beasts that once again evade a nighttime hunt led by Yuri’s father, ludicrously armor-accessorized like a cosplay centurion, leading a posse of rifle-wielding boys from the area.
—
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
But the site’s most famous find is a mysterious green gadget: the Antikythera mechanism.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
Then a mysterious luchador named El Grande Americano, who looked like and wrestled like Gable (except under a mask), made his debut and began defeating the WWE’s luchadors through nefarious means.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2025
Apart is on its way — and has quite the mysterious cover to match.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
But the site’s most famous find is a mysterious green gadget: the Antikythera mechanism.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
Then a mysterious luchador named El Grande Americano, who looked like and wrestled like Gable (except under a mask), made his debut and began defeating the WWE’s luchadors through nefarious means.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2025
Apart is on its way — and has quite the mysterious cover to match.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious
Adjective
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When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to ‘find the accountant,’ Wolff is compelled to solve the case.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Despite the cryptic message, many fans figured out where to find the singer and showed up in droves, forcing Lorde to initially cancel her appearance.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the scene itself could be read as a little ambiguous, too: is Sammie trying to pierce the veil again, playing a song that could both foster community but also bring back the vampires?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
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As the days turned into weeks, the reality of her situation remained ambiguous.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Other notable roles for Chastain include playing astronaut Melissa Lewis in The Martian, the enigmatic Murph in Interstellar and real-life figure Molly Bloom in Molly’s Game.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2025
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These enigmatic paintings are inspired by Edvard Munch and William Blake: After Munch: Less is Known than People Think, 2023, and After Blake: Less is Known than People Think, 2024, in which astronomy, history and geography cross paths with spirituality, according to the artist.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Editor’s tip: Niacinamide is a multitasker that blurs the look of dark spots, evens your skin tone, and balances your complexion.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
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And so by some sociologists, camp is thought to be this form of dark humor serving as a coping mechanism to historical marginalization.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to Nutritionists By Brianna Peters In an era when nearly everything feels politicized and uncertain, these mystic tools offer something precious: a means of reconnecting with ourselves.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2025
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In the West, she’s been sanctified, but also portrayed as a sinner, a nun, a mystic, and Jesus’ wife.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That included obscure cold opens and immersive world-building.—
Adelle Platon,
VIBE.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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But his recitation of Black Americans’ names also revealed that they were heavily weighted toward athletes and performers like Jackie Robinson and Aretha Franklin (on a list that includes relatively obscure conservative white thinkers such as Whittaker Chambers and Clare Boothe Luce).—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Whether Daboll possesses an uncanny ability to identify franchise quarterbacks or just got lucky with Allen, the Dart pick will at least provide an answer.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Born in Odessa, Texas, Kyle grew up hunting with his father and quickly discovered his uncanny aim.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This deeper level of engagement not only informs new office designs but can increases employees’ sense of ownership of it.—
Ryan Anderson,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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That conversation opened up deeper discussions about beauty standards, authenticity, and the pressure women face to conform.—
Liz Krieger,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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