variants
or elliptic
1
as in cryptic
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the poet's elliptical style is such that the reader often senses that an allusion is being made—but to what exactly?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
his elliptical replies can seem rude to some people, but that's just his way
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 elliptical
Then in her mid-fifties, Bainbridge was already well on her way to the status of a slightly rackety grande dame, having made her name in the Seventies with a blizzard of short, elliptical novels, comic in execution but tinged with an underlying darkness.
—
Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
SkinBit's solution creates a digital twin of your entire body in under 60 seconds using 16 high-resolution cameras arranged in an elliptical ring.
—Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
By mid-January, however, treadmills were vacant and elliptical machines were lonely again.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
For those looking to stay active on vacation, the on-site fitness center is home to Technogym equipment, including treadmills, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes.
—Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
SkinBit's solution creates a digital twin of your entire body in under 60 seconds using 16 high-resolution cameras arranged in an elliptical ring.
—Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
By mid-January, however, treadmills were vacant and elliptical machines were lonely again.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
For those looking to stay active on vacation, the on-site fitness center is home to Technogym equipment, including treadmills, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes.
—Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elliptical
Adjective
-
At the end of the video, Swift shows a clip from their appearance on the Graham Norton Show in which Gleeson jokes about wanting to star in a music video and Swift giving a surprised, but cryptic smile.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Bryony hopes that sharing her story will help spread awareness about cryptic pregnancies, or stealth pregnancies.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The oval shape of this dish fits pork roasts, whole chickens, and sides of salmon perfectly, and can go straight from the stove to the oven to the table.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The eight-piece set includes four mini cocottes, an oval casserole dish, a square baking dish, and a rectangular roasting pan with a lid.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
As Mercury enters Pisces, your social life is busy, but concise communication isn’t your strong suit.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Get concise answers to your questions.—
David L. Stern,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These images are interwoven with letters to an ambiguous, ageless, and perhaps illusory recipient.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Loper Bright concerns statutory language that is ambiguous; if a court concurs that the language is clear, the answer will be clear too.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The crucial employment snapshot is slightly delayed because of the brief government shutdown and will show whether the trajectory improved for the US labor market, which has been stuck in a low-hire and low-fire lull.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
School officials issued a brief statement saying the VA had offered to meet with them in Washington.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The activist also went full glam on her flight, looking radiant in bronzy makeup, complete with dark eyeliner, fluttery eyelashes, fluffy eyebrows, luminous skin, and glossy lips.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
-
More dark, romantic beauty inspiration.—
Jesa Marie Calaor,
Allure,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Such rights obviously do not include summary execution at sea.—
Mary Ellen O'Connell,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Not surprisingly, given the risk of summary execution, many had initial doubts.—
Yossi Melman,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
And third, the center of the nebula is obscure, with what looks like a wispy cloud in the foreground blocking us from seeing the central star itself.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The group that organized the convoy was connected to a broader network of nurses, doctors, and volunteers, which had been coördinating dozens of surgeries for protesters marooned in their homes, in obscure corners of the country.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elliptical. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
