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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2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the stranger's mysterious prediction
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Recent Examples of mysterious
In its time orbiting Earth, Hubble has shaped our understanding of the universe by observing the atmospheric composition of planets around other stars and even discovering dark energy – a mysterious force that causes the universe to expand.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Best known for its moai, the nearly 1,000 massive volcanic-stone statues carved by the Rapa Nui people centuries ago, the island has long held a mysterious pull among travelers drawn to archaeology and myth.
—Carla Vianna, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Their luminous glow, ranging from the classic creamy white to delicate pinks and mysterious blacks, adds a touch of understated luxury to any ensemble.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Sweeney shared the exact ring size with the mysterious contributor, who rushed to get insurance so the ring could be used on the show.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Best known for its moai, the nearly 1,000 massive volcanic-stone statues carved by the Rapa Nui people centuries ago, the island has long held a mysterious pull among travelers drawn to archaeology and myth.
—Carla Vianna, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Their luminous glow, ranging from the classic creamy white to delicate pinks and mysterious blacks, adds a touch of understated luxury to any ensemble.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Sweeney shared the exact ring size with the mysterious contributor, who rushed to get insurance so the ring could be used on the show.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious
Adjective
-
Pleas from other countries fell on deaf ears, with Zelensky issuing cryptic warnings for foreigners to stay away from the Victory Day parade.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
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But one cryptic record provides some indication of how the note went through the legal system.—
Shirsho Dasgupta
Updated May 6,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Several files included military videos from the last several years that showed small ambiguous dots moving above the landscapes of Iraq, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.—
Seung Min Kim,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Many trials occupy an ambiguous middle ground, generating useful data while simultaneously serving promotional objectives.—
Sukhun Kang,
The Conversation,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Patrick is willing to do anything to help his wife, but becomes distrustful of the retreat’s enigmatic leader (Weaver) even as Abigail falls under her spell.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
Opening with the lead character found dead in a ditch, the film flashes backward to piece together her life from the memories of others, creating a fragmented portrait of an enigmatic young woman’s life.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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But what exactly happens to these baby stars next isn't always clear (literally) because they are buried deep within clouds of dark, dusty gas that obscure them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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All the bedrooms can be found upstairs, including one that’s currently being used as an office and a primary suite flaunting dual dressing rooms and baths, plus a sauna clad in dark gray stone.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The mystic chords that bind us together matter more than any policy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
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Operating within those parameters, the mystic outlands trend extends to some of the world’s most mesmerizing corners.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hantavirus is suspected of spreading aboard a luxury cruise ship, killing three passengers and sparking new concerns as a once obscure disease, with an extraordinarily high death rate, rises amid changing climate conditions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
Pau’s early work cohered around a nonnarrative approach to themes of alienation and isolation, rendered through obscure and richly textured visuals.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
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Cameras now deploy ever higher frame rates, as seen in the uncanny sheen of blockbusters by James Cameron and Peter Jackson, and films are shot, shown, and restored on ever higher resolutions (4K, 8K, and beyond).—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Decades of local service as mayor and county supervisor have given me a deep understanding of local, state and federal issues.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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In Russia, indulging in such conspiracies is often less an exercise in political prediction than an expression of deeper anxieties that can be otherwise hard to express.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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