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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Recent Examples of arcane
Due to the Recording Academy’s arcane rules, some artists, including Beyoncé and Cardi B, were never even eligible for a nomination.
—
Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
At the time, the internet was an arcane world that made everyone an alien.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Mega-farmers, environmentalists and everyday folk read her site to learn about arcane water district policies, the effect of those policies on farmland and fish and for insights on the political intrigue that powers the San Joaquin Valley.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Filoni is known for his intimate and arcane franchise knowledge, which served him well in animation, but less so in live-action.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
At the time, the internet was an arcane world that made everyone an alien.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Mega-farmers, environmentalists and everyday folk read her site to learn about arcane water district policies, the effect of those policies on farmland and fish and for insights on the political intrigue that powers the San Joaquin Valley.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Filoni is known for his intimate and arcane franchise knowledge, which served him well in animation, but less so in live-action.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane
Adjective
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Neighbors shares a cinematic style with esoteric filmmakers such as The History of Concrete’s John Wilson, and Lance Oppenheim, who is behind docs such as Some Kind of Heaven and Ren Faire.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Lightwall can tell you its name, who created it and answer more esoteric questions about its purpose.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Then over the past weekend, the family posted another video — one that was more cryptic and generated even more speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate.—
Hallie Golden,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Then over the past weekend, the family posted another video — one that was more cryptic and generated even more speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate.—
TY ONEIL,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Massie’s comments shined a new spotlight on Les Wexner, the former owner of Victoria’s Secret, who is one of the most mysterious figures in Epstein’s orbit – a key player in helping the financier’s rise to extreme wealth, whose motivations and ties to Epstein have long been a source of speculation.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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The parades are organized by elite and mysterious krewes that spend months preparing for the holiday, decorating their floats and selecting those who get to ride on them.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That sort of profound insight is indeed a rare commodity these days.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Feb. 2026
-
John and Alice Coltrane lived, composed, recorded, and pursued spiritual study during a period of profound artistic transformation during their time in the New York home, and Coltrane came of age as a creative innovator within the local music community while living in the Philadelphia House.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There is, at present, some evidence for dark energy weakening over time, although the results from the DESI collaboration, which provide the strongest evidence to date for such a scenario, are highly ambiguous.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
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But the film’s tone and ending feel more ambiguous, perhaps bittersweet.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The language has mystic overtones and rhythmic sections; it might be better felt than understood.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The Dera was founded in 1948 by the mystic Mastana Balochistani in the Haryana city of Sirsa, near the northern state’s borders with Punjab, India’s breadbasket, and the desert state of Rajasthan.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As Ecklund later learned, the sign was a reference to a once-obscure federal statute, 18 US Code 111, that has become a key tool used by immigration agents to detain American citizens.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Some deserving names, though, are still obscure, and that is why an exhibition at Poster House, on West Twenty-third Street, running until April 12th, is to be welcomed with gusto.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But wow, the resemblance is uncanny!—
Fleurine Tideman,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Aivwis Angry Mama Microwave Oven Steam Cleaner Microwaves have an uncanny way of getting gross quickly, and cleaning can be a real drag.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcane. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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