as in enigmas
something hard to understand or explain
why my sister married that guy is still a mystery to my parents
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Recent Examples of mysteries
In truth, the mysteries and compromises of mapping New York are evident every day.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
The gang was younger, the mysteries were smaller, and everything felt lighter.
—Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 4 Jan. 2026
And for years, researchers had them down as simply one of those ocean mysteries.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
Its funky mysteries flicker in my brain until the perilla sorbet a couple of courses later washes it away.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The series goes beyond the traditional whodunit nature of crime mysteries to explore the motivation beyond the acts, with Pullman’s weary detective serving as a strong anchor through the show’s many twists and turns.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
By one of those unfathomable mysteries of airline pricing, the last-minute booking was, counterintuitively, lower than usual.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
In Rheology, which premiered at the Bushwick Starr last year, Chowdhury and his physicist mother, Bulbul Chakraborty (not an actor playing his mother — his actual mother), ponder the mysteries of sand and of life and death.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
The gang was younger, the mysteries were smaller, and everything felt lighter.
—Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 4 Jan. 2026
And for years, researchers had them down as simply one of those ocean mysteries.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
Its funky mysteries flicker in my brain until the perilla sorbet a couple of courses later washes it away.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The series goes beyond the traditional whodunit nature of crime mysteries to explore the motivation beyond the acts, with Pullman’s weary detective serving as a strong anchor through the show’s many twists and turns.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
By one of those unfathomable mysteries of airline pricing, the last-minute booking was, counterintuitively, lower than usual.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
In Rheology, which premiered at the Bushwick Starr last year, Chowdhury and his physicist mother, Bulbul Chakraborty (not an actor playing his mother — his actual mother), ponder the mysteries of sand and of life and death.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysteries
Noun
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Their sudden exit from the fossil record has remained one of anthropology’s most enduring enigmas, until now.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Dec. 2025
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Further enigmas can be found elsewhere on public lands, including within state parks, recreational areas, and more.—
Mike Bezemek,
Outside,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
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Nevertheless, this research represents an intriguing attempt to solve three cosmological puzzles with one mechanism.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Imperfect Women Apple TV, March 18 Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington star in Annie Weisman’s adaptation of Hall’s psychological thriller about three friends who find their secrets exposed after one of them is murdered.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Any secrets to longevity to share?—
Alice Newbold,
Vogue,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Neighbors put their own spin on the game, dressing up Frank in accessories, and posting riddles and clues to their local Facebook group to give hints on Frank's whereabouts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Dec. 2025
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For the first time ever, newcomers, longtime viewers and anyone who loves a good challenge will have the chance to strategize, uncover clues, solve riddles and track down authentic immunity idols hidden in their state.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The report says that this financial dependence may also make people less likely to report problems and change the data that platforms use to make safety features.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Some point to ongoing problems, such as objects being placed in roadways, including large boulders.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mysteries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysteries. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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