1
as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain
it's the sheer inscrutableness of the lady's smile that has tantalized art lovers for centuries
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2
as in ambiguity
the quality or state of having a veiled or uncertain meaning
the inscrutableness of the inscriptions left by the doomed colonists of Roanoke Island has inspired many theories concerning their fate
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutableness
Noun
-
That intrigue and mysteriousness still rest in the canyon walls today.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Words are better at suggesting ambiguity than plain numbers or emojis.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
And ambiguity versus clarity is key.—
Laura Brown,
Artforum,
25 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Inscrutableness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutableness. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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