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enigmatic

adjective
variants: also enigmatical

Synonyms and Antonyms of enigmatic

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

  • the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history
Synonyms of enigmatic

arcane, cryptic, deep, impenetrable, inscrutable, mysterious, mystic, occult, uncanny
Words Related to enigmatic

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 enigmatic

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 Mona Lisaʼs enigmatic smile
Synonyms of enigmatic

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

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 enigmatic

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 enigmatic

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

Synonym Discussion of enigmatic

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 enigmatic

  1. See words that rhyme with enigmatic Dictionary: Definition of enigmatic Spanish Central: Translation of enigmatic Nglish: Translation of enigmatic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of enigmatic for Arabic speakers

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