Thesaurus

cryptic

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of cryptic

1 being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain

puzzled by the cryptic e-mail message left on his computer

Synonyms of cryptic

arcane, deep, enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable, mysterious, mystic, occult, uncanny

Words Related to cryptic

dark, darkling, fuzzy, murky, obscure, shadowy, vague

ambiguous, equivocal

imponderable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, unintelligible, unsearchable

inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable

unanswerable, unknowable

metaphysical, mystical, numinous, supernatural

abstruse, esoteric, recondite

baffling, befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, disorienting, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling

Near Antonyms of cryptic

fathomable, intelligible, understandable

apparent, clear, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

2 having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning

the oracle offered only cryptic predictions that could be interpreted any number of different ways

Synonyms of cryptic

ambiguous, arcane, dark, deep, Delphic, double-edged, elliptical (or elliptic), enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, fuliginous, inscrutable, murky, mysterious, mystic, nebulous, obscure, occult, opaque

Words Related to cryptic

abstruse, esoteric, recondite

cloaked, concealed, disguised, masked, shrouded

beclouded, bedimmed, befogged, clouded, cloudy, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, muddy, obfuscatory, obnubilated, obscurant (or obscurantic), shaded, shadowlike, shadowy, sphinxlike

indefinite, inexact, inexplicit, noncommittal, questionable, unclear, uncertain, undefined, undetermined, vague

impenetrable, incomprehensible, indecipherable, inexplicable

eerie (also eery), uncanny, weird

impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible

unanswerable, unknowable

baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, unfathomable

circuitous, indirect, roundabout

complex, complicated, difficult, obtuse

Near Antonyms of cryptic

comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, knowable, legible, pellucid, understandable

bright, distinct, evident, self-evident, self-explanatory

certain, firm, strong, sure

defined, determined

direct, straightforward

definite, exact, explicit

appreciable, palpable, tangible, visible

blatant, patent, unmistakable

Antonyms of cryptic

accessible, clear, nonambiguous, obvious, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal

Synonym Discussion of cryptic

obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable. obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

- obscure poems

dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

- muttered dark hints of revenge

vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

- a vague sense of obligation

enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

- enigmatic occult writings

cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

- cryptic hints of hidden treasure

ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

- an ambiguous directive

equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

- moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

Learn More about cryptic

See words that rhyme with cryptic Dictionary: Definition of cryptic Medical Dictionary: Definition of cryptic Spanish Central: Translation of cryptic Nglish: Translation of cryptic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cryptic for Arabic speakers

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