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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The drawings include human figures, animals, and mysterious geometric patterns, offering a glimpse into the symbolism and daily life of early inhabitants.
—
Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
The mysterious power of the tale comes from its essential puzzle — how did three of the girls vanish without a trace?
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
He was written off television weeks ago by virtue of a mysterious backstage attack.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
This outburst was mysterious at the time and remains mysterious.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
The mysterious power of the tale comes from its essential puzzle — how did three of the girls vanish without a trace?
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
He was written off television weeks ago by virtue of a mysterious backstage attack.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
This outburst was mysterious at the time and remains mysterious.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious
Adjective
-
In recent weeks, fans expressed concern after Spears posted dancing videos but opted to turn off comments on posts that had cryptic captions about her kids, Jayden James, 19, and Sean Preston, 20.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dropped a cryptic hint that a blockbuster trade was coming, and after the team acquired linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals, many fans and analysts criticized Jones for overdelivering.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
With stunning celerity, possibility becomes probability and then certainty, as readers reject the quiet, circuitous, and unglamorous narratives of prudential compromise, ambiguous diplomacy, or incremental progress.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Ibsen’s choice to use Hedda’s maiden name for the play speaks to her resistance to the strong presence of men in her life; DaCosta’s choice to remove the surname entirely speaks to a rejection of patriarchal identity, replaced with an ambiguous void that Hedda herself doesn’t know how to fill.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Pacino stars as the enigmatic titular figure, described as part muse, part ghost of cinema past.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
João Pessoa João Pessoa, the capital of the state of Paraíba, is an enigmatic coastal metropolis.—
Aaron Randolph,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos were looked at by many across the NFL as a dark-horse Super Bowl contender before the season started.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Sor Juana’s verses confirm that venturing into the dating pool is always like stepping into a dark abyss.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Helena, meanwhile, was supposedly a mystic receiving directions from spiritual masters hidden in the Himalayas.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
-
This was the danger Madison considered — that mystic memory would falsely elevate the Constitution.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Add to that list Inhotim, a sprawling and relatively obscure contemporary art collection in the jungle of the state of Minas Gerais that surpasses any notion of what a museum can be.—
William O'Connor,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Mamdani began his campaign as a relatively obscure state lawmaker, little known even within New York City.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Heeler family home is recreated in uncanny detail—from Bandit’s armchair to the backyard barbecue—with interactive games (led by a cheeky garden gnome named Rhonda), music, and secret nooks that delight kids and grown-ups.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Working with rosters that were far from flawless, Bochy demonstrated an uncanny ability to push the right buttons and put players in positions to succeed.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Gjoshe had suffered a deep wound to his upper arm and had to wait until Tuesday for surgery.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share