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
Getting to the bottom of, say, the seed-oil controversy requires engaging with thorny scientific debates that reference inscrutable research papers; embracing the natural and ancestral by opting for tallow is an attractively simple-seeming alternative.
—
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
The Buccaneers, however, tries to girly-pop-ify this deal and its setting in increasingly inscrutable and faux-feminist ways.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
In early-1970s Framingham, Massachusetts, taciturn family man James (Josh O’Connor) makes the rash, largely inscrutable decision to orchestrate a heist at the local art museum, absconding with a selection of modern paintings—without much of a plan.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Delineating each and every Speedmaster reference would be a fruitless errand — tiny nuances during early production years mean that there are quite literally countless inscrutable variants within single reference numbers.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
The Buccaneers, however, tries to girly-pop-ify this deal and its setting in increasingly inscrutable and faux-feminist ways.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
In early-1970s Framingham, Massachusetts, taciturn family man James (Josh O’Connor) makes the rash, largely inscrutable decision to orchestrate a heist at the local art museum, absconding with a selection of modern paintings—without much of a plan.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Delineating each and every Speedmaster reference would be a fruitless errand — tiny nuances during early production years mean that there are quite literally countless inscrutable variants within single reference numbers.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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In an effort to help the group retrieve it, Guy encounters William Fitchner’s Jasper, a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Released in 2004, the film follows Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, who finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The first three episodes currently streaming on Paramount+ reveal that the Tiva dynamic remains as ambiguous as ever.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The term has become both expansive and ambiguous.—
Lauren Buitta,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Grande’s announcement follows her recent cryptic post on her Instagram in the vein of her Brighter Days Ahead short film to accompany the deluxe version of the album.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
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John Kuhn, a Packers legend, stoked those rumors with a cryptic post on social media.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The brand’s giant green owl mascot dances badly, makes obscure pop culture references and pokes fun at the company’s push notifications.—
Leeron Walter,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Indeed, compared to 2005’s Broken Flowers, this is a wilfully obscure step back to his deadpan, experimental roots, a gentle, almost deliberately un-film that is best not viewed in too much proximity to the witching hour.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While Stone memorably worked with Lanthimos on The Favourite and Poor Things, she was joined by Plemons last year in the director’s enigmatic triptych, Kinds of Kindness.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
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The pic centers on Ali (Ekin Koç), a university professor who is haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother and coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The 1960 movie — powered by Bernard Herrmann's chilling score, Anthony Perkins' unnerving portrayal of hotel manager Norman Bates (for the movie, much younger than the character in Bloch's novel) and Hitchcock's uncanny showmanship — revolutionized the horror genre.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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In an uncanny case of history repeating itself, the massive twin-stage Starship now stands at 400-plus feet, just shy of the 300-cubit length of the ark that Noah was instructed to build.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Kraus also had a dark backpack on her person.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Lakshmi shared a photo and video of herself at the beach wearing a dark pink bikini while playing in the water.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yeats’s spirals, once dismissed as the wild diagrams of a mystic, now settle over this place like soot.—
Alaa Alqaisi
August 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Aug. 2025
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The round shape and clear sides let the punch’s pumpkin orange hue shine, creating a mystic effect—especially when surrounded by a bit of dry ice mist.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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