INSCRUTABLE Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

inscrutable

adjective

in-ˈskrü-tə-bəl

Definition of inscrutable

as in mysterious

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 inscrutable But, practically speaking, none of it is imaginable or executable without digital technologies that are fundamentally black-boxed, inscrutable to individual cops on the beat and institutional decision-makers alike. — Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026 Up in the directors’ box, sporting director Andrea Berta wore an inscrutable expression as the game flowed. — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 Don’t worry — no spoilers here, because the ongoing plot is far too detailed and inscrutable anyway for one overnight concert review. — Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The paper makes significant progress on an unresolved aspect of the inscrutable math equation that determines how the primes are distributed along the number line. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inscrutable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable

Adjective

Afterward, guests made their way up to Shishi, tucked away on the third floor with a mysterious entrance.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
There’s a guy who wound up dying under mysterious circumstances that makes up part of him.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of mysterious

Adjective

The diabolical is ambiguous and often frankly sexy; the ridiculous is not.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Others require deep intelligence—analyzing complex financial information, generating code from ambiguous requirements or weighing competing factors.

— Nitin Gupta, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of ambiguous

Adjective

Olivia Benson dropped a cryptic string of clues that sent Swifties into Easter egg hunt overdrive.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
Though Room 71 sounds like something out of a sci-fi story, the cryptic name is simply a reference to the fact that 71% of the planet is covered by oceans.

— Pier Nirandara, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

In simpler terms, his company produces the plumbing for the plumbing, the obscure pieces of the data center.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
The film, while centering Iran’s current political and social crises, also brings to light obscure aspects, moments, and corners of Iranian history, public and private, which Bakhshi and Najdi discuss in great detail.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of obscure

Adjective

Beaches emptied out and dark clouds swirled above choppy seas, while Mexican authorities temporarily suspended classes in a number of areas on Tuesday.

— DESIREE BROOKS, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Set against these dark parts of the educational system, Lee convincingly casts hagwons as third spaces that advance the hopes of an entire community.

— Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

Phoebe Bridgers, in her first film role, pulls off an uncanny transformation as a decoy who bends lines of age and gender.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
One of Mahomes’ many uncanny traits is that this traction and momentum will only feed off itself.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncanny

Adjective

Rumi is also the name of a very famous 13th-century Persian poet and mystic.

— Sarah Scott, Parents, 24 Sep. 2026
The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026