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
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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
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Recent Examples of elliptical
Here, the installation features multitudes of yicas hanging in an elliptical arrangement on the white surface of the wall, each produced by an individual member of the group.
—
María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
Olive green dials that shift depending on the light, paired with the familiar elliptical case.
—Stephen Watson, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Following the flyby, 2026 GD will continue along a 644-day elliptical path that takes it beyond the orbit of Mars before careening back towards the sun.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
One of its current projects is a high elliptical orbit satellite constellation for Earth observation of solar storms and space weather.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
Olive green dials that shift depending on the light, paired with the familiar elliptical case.
—Stephen Watson, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Following the flyby, 2026 GD will continue along a 644-day elliptical path that takes it beyond the orbit of Mars before careening back towards the sun.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
One of its current projects is a high elliptical orbit satellite constellation for Earth observation of solar storms and space weather.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elliptical
Adjective
-
Pleas from other countries fell on deaf ears, with Zelensky issuing cryptic warnings for foreigners to stay away from the Victory Day parade.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
-
But one cryptic record provides some indication of how the note went through the legal system.—
Shirsho Dasgupta
Updated May 6,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The ring features a 12-carat, oval Ceylon sapphire at its center surrounded by a halo of 14 diamonds set in 18k white gold—by anyone’s eye, a beautiful piece.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
9 Mar. 2026
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Oval Glass Doors That front door with an oval glass inset?—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Mahan, 43, might have won the night for those who prefer clear and concise rhetoric.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
Emery was swift and concise with his words afterwards.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Several files included military videos from the last several years that showed small ambiguous dots moving above the landscapes of Iraq, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.—
Seung Min Kim,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Many trials occupy an ambiguous middle ground, generating useful data while simultaneously serving promotional objectives.—
Sukhun Kang,
The Conversation,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Knicks even used their defense to grab a brief lead late in the half, forcing 10 Philadelphia turnovers before the break.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Nearly 25 years after the attacks, the royal couple laid a bouquet of white flowers at the edge of the south reflecting pool, honoring the lives lost — including 67 British victims — during a brief ceremony on a chilly but sunny afternoon in lower Manhattan.—
Erin Hill,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
But what exactly happens to these baby stars next isn't always clear (literally) because they are buried deep within clouds of dark, dusty gas that obscure them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
All the bedrooms can be found upstairs, including one that’s currently being used as an office and a primary suite flaunting dual dressing rooms and baths, plus a sauna clad in dark gray stone.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The judge considered hundreds of pages of evidence and testimony from San Diego officials, homeowners and their lawyers and determined that the city had not met the burden for what is called summary adjudication in any of the five causes of actions.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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Such rights obviously do not include summary execution at sea.—
Mary Ellen O'Connell,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Hantavirus is suspected of spreading aboard a luxury cruise ship, killing three passengers and sparking new concerns as a once obscure disease, with an extraordinarily high death rate, rises amid changing climate conditions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
Pau’s early work cohered around a nonnarrative approach to themes of alienation and isolation, rendered through obscure and richly textured visuals.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elliptical. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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