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Synonym Chooser

How is the word cryptic different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cryptic are ambiguous, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

When is it sensible to use ambiguous instead of cryptic?

While the synonyms ambiguous and cryptic are close in meaning, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

In what contexts can dark take the place of cryptic?

The words dark and cryptic can be used in similar contexts, but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

When might enigmatic be a better fit than cryptic?

The words enigmatic and cryptic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

When can equivocal be used instead of cryptic?

Although the words equivocal and cryptic have much in common, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

When would obscure be a good substitute for cryptic?

While in some cases nearly identical to cryptic, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

When could vague be used to replace cryptic?

The synonyms vague and cryptic are sometimes interchangeable, but vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

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 cryptic These fish, known for their cryptic behavior, were identified as a neonative species, expanding their range naturally. Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 Ars reached out to Google for an explanation, receiving a cryptic and somewhat unsatisfying reply. Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025 Usually, the images seem cryptic at this stage and unbelievably obvious once the keynote is done. David Phelan, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025 Just days after Kelce and Swift announced their engagement on August 26, social media assumed Kayla posted a few cryptic posts. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cryptic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cryptic
Adjective
  • With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Beyond this, the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton X-Ray observatory also studied this spiral galaxy repeatedly and found mysterious regions known as ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs).
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike Europe's clear regulatory framework under PSD2, American enterprises operate in a more ambiguous environment where implementation decisions must account for evolving compliance requirements and uncertain regulatory timelines.
    Dave Glaser, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Dani's on-again, off-again relationship with playboy photographer Andre — who's also her sister's ex's nephew — has become more ambiguous than ever in recent weeks.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Perseverance's adventures have revealed some insights about the enigmatic Martian geology.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Recommendations The Honanki Heritage Site, built by ancestors of the Hopi tribe, transports you to the 12th to 14th centuries with enigmatic cliff dwellings, pictographs and petroglyphs.
    New York Times, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For instance, in a now obscure 1944 speech, Franklin Delano Roosevelt argued that the American Revolution remained an incomplete project.
    Big Think, Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Department and team-level metrics expose inefficiency that company-wide averages often obscure.
    Heidi Farris, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Of course, the resemblance was uncanny, from their matching smiles to their auburn-red hair, which Julia wore down in loose waves and Emma styled in a messy ponytail.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The job requires an uncanny ability to sell each bit of incremental progress as a success in and of itself.
    Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Interestingly, Lorraine has taught Judy to ward off her frightening visions by using a nursery rhyme, effectively teaching her to suppress her dark side.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Dolphins wear white jerseys at home for afternoon games, forcing opponents to wear darker colors that absorb more heat.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • In fact, the concept means to be a resistance against what the early-twentieth-century Catholic mystic philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin called the noosphere, which for him converges throughout human history.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cryptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cryptic. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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