1
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
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
Aside from the retroactive tariffs expected to be announced this afternoon by the White House, not only is the imposition of secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian highly uncertain, but their possible nature remains inscrutable.
—
Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
While other tech companies usually name their products using combinations of inscrutable letters and numbers, most of Nvidia’s most recent GPU architectures have been named after famous women scientists.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025
The actor, who has built a career playing deliciously inscrutable villains, stars as Alfred Moretti, an enigmatic pop icon who, after decades out of the spotlight, re-emerges to announce the release of a new album.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2025
The Giants have done it again, building an entire rotation out of inscrutable test cases and unpredictable pitchers.
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
While other tech companies usually name their products using combinations of inscrutable letters and numbers, most of Nvidia’s most recent GPU architectures have been named after famous women scientists.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025
The actor, who has built a career playing deliciously inscrutable villains, stars as Alfred Moretti, an enigmatic pop icon who, after decades out of the spotlight, re-emerges to announce the release of a new album.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2025
The Giants have done it again, building an entire rotation out of inscrutable test cases and unpredictable pitchers.
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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Dipping in and out of this book over a few months might inspire a new reverence for the mysterious human body.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
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The family adventure show is set at mysterious Crookhaven School where high achieving young crooks from across the world are secretly selected to hone their skills in disciplines such as deception, crimnastics, forgery and infiltration.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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While critical thinking is invaluable, the tendency to fixate on ambiguous data points—many of which pertain to uncontrollable external factors—can lead to unnecessary stress.—
Davide Sartini,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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The two were previously involved in a morally ambiguous mission gone wrong, which led to Vincent murdering an undercover cop.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The crime scene was made more terrifying by a cryptic message the killer scrawled across a wall near the victims that demanded drug money.—
David Schutz,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2025
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Amid all the trade rumors going on, Antetokounmpo has made a cryptic social media post.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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Starting from a relatively obscure blog, Yarvin has emerged as one of the most prominent critics of ...—
Fred Bauer,
National Review,
10 May 2025
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Over the last few weeks, an obscure subject has sowed panic and speculation among investors, the federal government, national security experts, and business leaders: rare earth elements.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Since emerging in 2016, the English prog-metal outfit Sleep Token have become one of rock’s most enigmatic success stories.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
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The feature, based on an award-winning short, traces the story of an enigmatic old man living in the dunes who is unjustly accused of killing a local.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Each week, Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale would drive into a new locale, discover that a murder had taken place, and solve it using her uncanny ability to recognize when people are lying.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
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The weekly Colombo-esque whodunnit follows Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a woman whose uncanny ability to spot a lie routinely gets her in trouble.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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The whiskey is powerful on the nose, with bold aromas of dark brown sugar, mesquite smoke, saddle leather, and vanilla bean.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
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Large amounts of larvae were in dark crevices inside the homes, including under appliances or furniture.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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According to Nutritionists By Brianna Peters 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
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In the West, she’s been sanctified, but also portrayed as a sinner, a nun, a mystic, and Jesus’ wife.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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