mysterious

adjective

mi-ˈstir-ē-əs How to pronounce mysterious (audio)
Definition of mysteriousnext
1
as in cryptic
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the huge stone statues on Easter Island are ancient, mysterious, and haunting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the stranger's mysterious prediction

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mysterious As familiar as a beloved family photo, her photos are also as mysterious as magic. — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026 Hollywood is a strange and mysterious place, even for those who have operated within its orbit for decades. — Emma Specter, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2026 As a bounty is set on his head, Vision goes on the run with a mysterious teen (Ruaridh Mollica) who may be his reincarnated son. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2026 In 2018's Apostle, a man arrives on a remote Welsh island occupied by a mysterious cult. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious
  1. cryptic
  2. ambiguous
  3. enigmatic
  4. dark
  5. mystic
  6. obscure
  7. uncanny
  8. deep
Adjective
  • Then, on October 26, a member of Parliament—who happened to be the brother-in-law of one of the conspirators—received a cryptic, anonymous letter.
    — Lucia Barnum, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The news arrives after a cryptic graphic teasing the tour was posted on Instagram, featuring imagery from The Great Divide.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of cryptic
Adjective
  • The cover art for The Holy Cross Tigers is awash in burgundy, a more ambiguous shade that’s indicative of the oppositional emotions stewing within.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But Maryland’s climate goals have been ambiguous and inconsistent.
    — Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Even your biggest hits have something of an enigmatic quality.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Today, this Chilean territory is essentially an open-air archaeological museum, with many of its enigmatic moai (representations of Polynesian ancestors) returned to their upright positions following seven decades of restoration.
    — Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of enigmatic
Adjective
  • The refreshing under-eye treatments are formulated to smooth, firm, and brighten crow’s feet and dark circles.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The helmet uses a carbon-fiber shell to help control weight and comes supplied with clear and dark visors, as well as a Pinlock anti-fog insert.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • What’s more, even without steering, the bots were prone to mystic ruminations.
    — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Take The Night Veils, for example, which seeks to capture the spirit of the night through fragrances that can best be described as primal and mystic.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of mystic
Adjective
  • But Sung, Bennett and Miller stayed his order, finding that the California deployment could go forward under an obscure and virtually untested subsection of the law.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The area sits within the Lake Superior clay plain, where the surrounding soil is largely composed of clay, which can make the water murky and obscure objects beneath the surface.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscure
Adjective
  • Dowler-Guerrero said Raman had an uncanny ability to get people organized and always had an unwavering belief in her own ability to get things done.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The suggestion is that the algorithms responsible for animating his uncanny likeness have also managed to bring him back from the dead, reassembling him piece by piece.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncanny
Adjective
  • That gives camper travelers the ability to drive cleanly and quietly through city centers, around campgrounds and down deep forest roads.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • In the Soil Grubs and some types of moth larvae may dig in even deeper and overwinter directly in the soil itself.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of deep

Browse Nearby Words

mysteries
mysterious
mysteriousness
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Cite this Entry

“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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