1
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
ancient oracles typically uttered inscrutable prophecies that could be interpreted almost any way one chose
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inscrutable
Automatic bids would provide a layer of protection for the blue bloods from the whims of a committee that uses an inscrutable process.
—
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
The question is how much value Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s inscrutable top executive, who rarely talks with media, would take from a trophy.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Materialists is a swipe-right experience — elusive but not inscrutable, as well as enjoyably, delicately playful.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 June 2025
Most people have a sense that legal principles and arguments are relatively inscrutable to the average Joe.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
The question is how much value Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s inscrutable top executive, who rarely talks with media, would take from a trophy.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Materialists is a swipe-right experience — elusive but not inscrutable, as well as enjoyably, delicately playful.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 June 2025
Most people have a sense that legal principles and arguments are relatively inscrutable to the average Joe.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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Before long, his life is plagued by a series of mysterious, sinister incidents that threaten to upend his success and bring about a most violent demise.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 July 2025
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In The Old Guard 2, following on from the climax of the first film, Andy must come to terms with her newfound mortality while preparing to face a mysterious foe (played by Uma Thurman).—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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These beers had previously been included within larger, more ambiguous lager categories for the Great American Beer Festival competition, but the Brewers Association says the uniqueness and growing popularity of these styles warrants individual guideline recognition.—
Don Tse,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Tipping for other services may be more ambiguous and recommended as a dollar amount instead, like $10 per hour or $5 per bag carried or shuttle driven.—
Katie Kelton,
Boston Herald,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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On Thursday, Bloom shared a series of cryptic quotes from Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist Carl Jung on Instagram.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
4 July 2025
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The team also discovered two more new species: the cryptic Namib day gecko and the miniature Namib day gecko.—
Aspen Pflughoeft
July 3,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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Their final products include paintings, sketches, audio recordings, sculptures and videos of some of the Louvre’s most iconic artworks, as well as some of its more obscure.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
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The most obscure entry on this list, Hotel Fear (Pensione Paura in Italian) is the sort of arthouse exploitation film in which the Italians excelled in the late 1970s.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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These technologies can imitate voices, faces and even emotional expressions with uncanny precision.—
Jennifer C. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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The identity of Jake's owner remains as mysterious as the robot's uncanny ability to flatter strangers.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Look for bronze or dark spots on the foliage or prominent purple veins.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 July 2025
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Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Further projects include psychological thriller The Olive Press, set in the mystic world of the Druze community in Mount Lebanon, from writer and director Samah El Kadi, and co-written by Nadim Chammas.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
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In an era when nearly everything feels politicized and uncertain, these mystic tools offer something precious: a means of reconnecting with ourselves.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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