Synonyms of elliptical

elliptical

adjective

i-ˈlip-ti-kəl 

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

• cryptic
• ambiguous
• dark
• obscure
• enigmatic
• mystic
• mysterious
• esoteric
• opaque
• vague
• murky
• inscrutable
• nebulous
• unclear
• fuliginous
• occult
• questionable
• arcane
• equivocal
• Delphic
• deep
• obscurant
• uncertain
• indirect
• confusing
• shaded
• abstruse
• weird
• eerie
• fuzzy
• complicated
• double-edged
• shadowy
• uncanny
• recondite
• faint
• indistinct
• foggy
• complex
• misty
• hazy
• cloudy
• invisible
• concealed
• noncommittal
• indefinite
• inexact
• incomprehensible
• indecipherable
• disguised
• difficult
• undefined
• puzzling
• indistinguishable
• shrouded
• inexplicable
• muddy
• cloaked
• sphinxlike
• clouded
• roundabout
• masked
• impenetrable
• obfuscatory
• dim
• bedimmed
• inexplicit
• obtuse
• circuitous
• undetermined
• perplexing
• shadowlike
• baffling
• unanswerable
• intangible
• unknowable
• beclouded
• confounding
• mystifying
• impalpable
• obnubilated
• bewildering
• inappreciable
• unfathomable
• befogged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plain
• clear
• obvious
• accessible
• unambiguous
• intelligible
• distinct
• unequivocal
• legible
• certain
• comprehensible
• bright
• evident
• understandable
• strong
• pellucid
• direct
• sure
• firm
• nonambiguous
• defined
• explicit
• knowable
• straightforward
• exact
• definite
• determined
• visible
• self-explanatory
• fathomable
• self-evident
• tangible
• appreciable
• unmistakable
• palpable
• blatant
• patent

2

as in oval

having the shape of an egg

the villa's marble pool is surrounded by an elliptic arrangement of ancient Greek statuary

Synonyms & Similar Words

• oval
• ovate
• ovoid

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

• concise
• brief
• summary
• epigrammatic
• aphoristic
• monosyllabic
• telegraphic
• pithy
• laconic
• short
• compact
• blunt
• succinct
• terse
• capsule
• curt
• sententious
• compendious
• crisp
• apothegmatic
• condensed
• thumbnail
• abbreviated
• abrupt
• shortened
• brusque
• abridged
• meaningful
• meaty
• curtailed
• substantial
• snippy
• well-turned
• snippety
• significant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• circuitous
• diffuse
• redundant
• repetitious
• prolix
• wordy
• verbose
• rambling
• windy
• tautological
• enlarged
• circumlocutory
• long-winded
• exaggerated
• inflated
• expanded
• pleonastic
• supplemented
• tautologous
• embroidered
• embellished

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of elliptical

The stamina required to rehearse and perform shows that involve pivoting, marching, carrying large instruments, running, and more can burn more calories than an elliptical workout. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026

The poem seems to chart the character’s emotional journey, but does so in a very enigmatic, elliptical way — kind of like how poetry works. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

An April 2026 Google whitepaper put cracking Bitcoin's elliptic-curve cryptography at fewer than 500,000. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The presentations follow predictable, elliptical patterns; they are designed to be half-watched, for viewers who are flipping channels, or maybe falling asleep. — Hannah Engler Harvey, Longreads, 30 July 2026