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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of arcane
Eating and drinking with friends is hardly an arcane interest akin to speed-solving puzzles.
—
Melissa Kirsch, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Wilson enjoyed learning arcane bits of city code, like how exterior doors that swing outward must be recessed.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Apr. 2025
The arcane proxy voting matter had threatened to derail House GOP leadership’s plans to hold a vote this week on that budget resolution, which provides a framework for President Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda on tax cuts, border and energy policy.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 6 Apr. 2025
The president and his allies say Boasberg has no right to interfere or even play any oversight role in Trump’s actions under the Alien Enemies Act, an arcane 18th century law that permits deportation of people who are nationals of a country with which the U.S. is at war.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Melissa Kirsch, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Wilson enjoyed learning arcane bits of city code, like how exterior doors that swing outward must be recessed.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Apr. 2025
The arcane proxy voting matter had threatened to derail House GOP leadership’s plans to hold a vote this week on that budget resolution, which provides a framework for President Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda on tax cuts, border and energy policy.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 6 Apr. 2025
The president and his allies say Boasberg has no right to interfere or even play any oversight role in Trump’s actions under the Alien Enemies Act, an arcane 18th century law that permits deportation of people who are nationals of a country with which the U.S. is at war.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane
Adjective
-
Advocating for biological men in women’s locker rooms, while rooted in inclusivity, often feels esoteric to the typical voter.—
Nafees Alam,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Fertility data used to be a fairly esoteric concern.—
Noel King,
Vox,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Some people are already well aware of Norse Atlantic, despite the company’s somewhat mysterious profile.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Nathan Carman died by suicide in his jail cell in 2023 as the prime suspect in his mother’s mysterious 2016 drowning death at sea — and in the 2013 shooting death of his wealthy grandfather.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This signals a profound reshaping of executive leadership.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The letters range from the prosaic to the profound: recollections of childhood softball games, news about David’s retirement, updates on their aging mother’s declining health.—
Serge F. Kovaleski,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Storm clouds loomed over Europe, and Adolf Hitler's ambitions were not ambiguous for anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear—especially U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Timing for the start of production is likewise ambiguous.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
These renderings obscure just how much conventional warfare took place in Vietnam.—
Made by History,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Parsing a FromSoftware game's obscure plot is as tricky as taking down its brutal enemies.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Born in Odessa, Texas, Kyle grew up hunting with his father and quickly discovered his uncanny aim.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcane. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share