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
The story’s inscrutable moments even take on a sort of beauty.
—
Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Hailee Steinfeld leads the ensemble cast as Anna, whose motives become more inscrutable as the story unfolds.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The film’s Cannes reception was a bit inscrutable, but Lawrence playing a young mother battling psychosis is a tempting bit of awards bait.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
Putin, by all accounts, runs an inscrutable if strongman geopolitical playbook.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Hailee Steinfeld leads the ensemble cast as Anna, whose motives become more inscrutable as the story unfolds.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The film’s Cannes reception was a bit inscrutable, but Lawrence playing a young mother battling psychosis is a tempting bit of awards bait.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
Putin, by all accounts, runs an inscrutable if strongman geopolitical playbook.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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It’s often said that, in New Orleans’ French Quarter, the dead outnumber the living, that residual energy from the past continues to inhabit the neighborhood’s 300-year-old buildings and mysterious courtyards.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
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When one of his old enemies resurfaces and his daughter is abducted, the movie turns into a game of cat and mouse with car chases aplenty as well as the involvement of militias and mysterious organizations.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Leaving out any vital details or stating the requirements in ambiguous ways is going to undermine the result.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Obviously this wasn’t the best call, regardless of the somewhat ambiguous state of Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship at the time.—
Olivia Petter,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Finally, the cryptic messages on the bullet cartridges did indeed seem to be an attempt to gain status online.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
20 Sep. 2025
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Kansas City’s newest speakeasy is born out of a fantastical myth and a true — though somewhat cryptic — history.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Sunway was transformed by Jeffrey Cheah from an obscure tin-mining company over the five decades into one of Malaysia’s biggest conglomerates with interests in construction, education, healthcare, infrastructure and real estate.—
Jonathan Burgos,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Robinson also explained the obscure engravings found on bullet casings that were left behind at the scene.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The enigmatic Water sign totally aligns with his character!—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
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Shu Qi has spent her career embodying other people’s stories — enigmatic drifters for Hou Hsiao-hsien, comic foils in international action franchises, or, more recently, the tragic heroine of Bi Gan’s Cannes award winner Resurrection.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Law, the first guest of the night, was asked by Fallon about his uncanny ability to predict the future in his film roles in the past.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
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During an acting career lasting more than 60 years, Redford became a Hollywood icon with an uncanny knack for finding the perfect scene partner.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Princess Amalia took on royal power suiting in a pink ensemble with wide-leg trousers and a matching blazer with dark buttons.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
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Eight Unbearable Days Ray, Ben, Michael, Michelle’s brother, and Ben’s dad drove up I-70 to Vail, checking into a hotel just after dark as the first hasty teams from VMRG were heading up the mountain.—
Ted Katauskas,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In Completedworks’ spring 2026 presentation, the Texan actor and model took the stage as Miss Edie Grey, a television clairvoyant and mystic extraordinaire that can trace the history of objects with her magical touch.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
20 Sep. 2025
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Yet Blanc’s real faith lies in the nearly mystic quality involved in seeing what the human animal is capable of.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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