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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the stranger's mysterious prediction
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mysterious
Most of the gems were eventually recovered, with some mysterious exceptions.
—
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 2025
Whether your vibe is a family-friendly walk or a wild caving crawl, these caves and caverns open the door to a mysterious world shaped over millions of years.
—Erin Gifford, USA Today, 18 June 2025
At first none of the murders seem to be related, yet these mysterious puzzle segments appear around the time of each crime.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Four thousand years ago, however, Crete was also a crossroads dominated by a mysterious and largely still poorly understood Bronze Age culture that predated classical Greece.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 2025
Whether your vibe is a family-friendly walk or a wild caving crawl, these caves and caverns open the door to a mysterious world shaped over millions of years.
—Erin Gifford, USA Today, 18 June 2025
At first none of the murders seem to be related, yet these mysterious puzzle segments appear around the time of each crime.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Four thousand years ago, however, Crete was also a crossroads dominated by a mysterious and largely still poorly understood Bronze Age culture that predated classical Greece.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious
Adjective
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The cryptic introduction is a subtle nod to the bartenders that the patron is about to order one of four drinks from the Burning Blade secret menu.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
25 June 2025
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Alongside firsthand accounts from cops, journalists, and survivors, the series unpacks how fear spread through the streets, fueled by cryptic letters, a frenzied press, and a killer who seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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The inconsistency of the geographical settings goes hand in hand with the how their American protagonists are depicted as inept operators whose heroism is ambiguous Soon after his arrival in Saigon, Andrews mistakes an advertisement for a dubious massage parlor as a clue from a local contact.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
18 June 2025
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That’s negativity bias in action—the cognitive reflex to prioritize potential threats over neutral or positive cues, especially when the situation is ambiguous.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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This deeply personal documentary dives into the legacy of Counting Crows and their enigmatic lead singer Adam Duritz, not as a nostalgia play, but as a raw and revealing look at identity, artistry, and the fine line between performance and reality.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 June 2025
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Her enigmatic portraiture graces the collections of billionaire businessman François Pinault and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among others.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Named for the distinctive dark stripes running across the back of its head, this medium-sized goose is specially adapted for one of the most extreme migrations in the animal kingdom.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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This book contains the first English translation of the writings of af Klint, a Swedish painter and mystic.—
Melissa Febos,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
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The author also varies the texture of the book by inserting poems, quotations, dramatic dialogue, a veiled account of her unhappy days at boarding school, and a lengthy digression on the German mystic Friederike Hauffe, who claimed to be clairvoyant and to communicate with spirits.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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This obscure law vested NOAA with the authority to issue permits for mining beyond American jurisdiction until an international regime was put in place.—
Time,
Time,
17 June 2025
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That Davis exhibited but ultimately painted over the other two works in his geometric series might suggest some dissatisfaction with their admittedly obscure nature.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Wilson demonstrated an uncanny gift for harmonic invention and complex vocal and instrumental arrangements.—
Roy Trakin,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
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Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, there is a reason this haunting, uncanny novel has such enduring appeal.—
Miriam Gershow
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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This is a deep, dark, peppery and elegant wine at astonishing value.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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