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
Known as Kosmos 482 and originally designed to parachute down to the surface of Venus, the armored capsule had spent 53 years marooned in an elliptical orbit before its fiery re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
However, due to a malfunction in its launch vehicle, the spacecraft failed to escape Earth's orbit and had remained trapped in an elliptical orbit since March 1972.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
Kosmos 482 launched toward Earth's hellishly hot sister planet in 1972, but a problem with its rocket stranded the spacecraft in an elliptical orbit around Earth.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 10 May 2025
Unlike a circular or an elliptical orbit, the spacecraft’s path in hyperbolic orbit won’t keep it orbiting around Mars.
—Piyush Mehta, The Conversation, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
However, due to a malfunction in its launch vehicle, the spacecraft failed to escape Earth's orbit and had remained trapped in an elliptical orbit since March 1972.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
Kosmos 482 launched toward Earth's hellishly hot sister planet in 1972, but a problem with its rocket stranded the spacecraft in an elliptical orbit around Earth.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 10 May 2025
Unlike a circular or an elliptical orbit, the spacecraft’s path in hyperbolic orbit won’t keep it orbiting around Mars.
—Piyush Mehta, The Conversation, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elliptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elliptical
Adjective
-
The cryptic introduction is a subtle nod to the bartenders that the patron is about to order one of four drinks from the Burning Blade secret menu.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
25 June 2025
-
Alongside firsthand accounts from cops, journalists, and survivors, the series unpacks how fear spread through the streets, fueled by cryptic letters, a frenzied press, and a killer who seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Kohler Sunstruck oval tub is standard in the primary bathroom if this layout is chosen.—
Benjamin C Tankersley,
Washington Post,
1 Feb. 2023
-
This simple opener works well on circular cans but may not be effective on dented, square, or oval cans.—
Maya Polton,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
That’s compared to more concise models which required just 37.7 tokens per question.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
19 June 2025
-
The researchers found that the reasoning models generated significantly more tokens, which correlate with CO₂ emissions, than the more concise models.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
The inconsistency of the geographical settings goes hand in hand with the how their American protagonists are depicted as inept operators whose heroism is ambiguous Soon after his arrival in Saigon, Andrews mistakes an advertisement for a dubious massage parlor as a clue from a local contact.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
18 June 2025
-
That’s negativity bias in action—the cognitive reflex to prioritize potential threats over neutral or positive cues, especially when the situation is ambiguous.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Following a brief stint in public relations, their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture publications such as Men's Health, Complex… Read More Read More On: Home Design News Phoenix Real Estate Like this article?—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
17 June 2025
-
After a brief intermission, Simon came back for the hits/deep cuts portion of the night.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Outside of the players, the series did leave several survivors, including the game’s enigmatic overseer, The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who ended his time on the series by tracking down Gi-hun’s estranged daughter, Ga-yeong (Jo Ah-in), in Los Angeles.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2025
-
Or, is this high-profile loss, and others of recent vintage, for the middle lane of the Democratic Party due more to poor centrist standard-bearers (and enigmatic extremists) rather than the actual political positions themselves?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
And Register Calibration: What reads as efficient in American English might come across as curt or even disrespectful in Japanese.—
Alessa Cross,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
-
Grumpy and delightfully curt, Martin gives up his successful career as a surgeon after developing a fear of blood and takes over as a general practitioner in a small seaside town called Portwenn full of reliably quirky characters.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Two of the dogs died of heat stroke, one of blunt force trauma, Orange County Deputy District Attorney Danica Drotman told Judge Kimberly Menninger during Monday’s hearing, drawing gasps from the owners in the courtroom gallery.—
Sean Emery,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
An autopsy later revealed that O’Keefe had died from blunt force trauma and hypothermia.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elliptical. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share