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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mysterious
In the latter time line, Yesiko, a middle-aged ship captain who is burdened by medical debt, picks up some mysterious passengers—including a moody robot—who promise to pay handsomely.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
But political movements that reject the mysterious pleasures of artifice are only doing themselves a disservice by excluding those who otherwise would be ideologically aligned with them.
—Eileen G'sell, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
The secrecy surrounding Key’s mom ties in with the cozy, mysterious feel of the setting.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 June 2026
The annual summer event returns to television for its 14th year in July with hours of new programming focused on the mysterious, majestic world of sharks.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
But political movements that reject the mysterious pleasures of artifice are only doing themselves a disservice by excluding those who otherwise would be ideologically aligned with them.
—Eileen G'sell, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
The secrecy surrounding Key’s mom ties in with the cozy, mysterious feel of the setting.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 8 June 2026
The annual summer event returns to television for its 14th year in July with hours of new programming focused on the mysterious, majestic world of sharks.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious
Adjective
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Although Suki Waterhouse did confirm that she is set to attend, most of the couple's friends have been very cryptic about the status of their wedding invites.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
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Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The entity known as Mother is left ambiguous, as is the tree inside the Cave of Wonders, but there are hints to their true nature.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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If a serious spending-reduction effort were somehow mounted anyway, the result would likely be positive for bonds — but ambiguous for equities, since the economic drag could easily outweigh the benefit of lower interest rates.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Laurie joins an ensemble cast including Matthew Macfadyen as legendary spymaster George Smiley, Dan Stevens as the enigmatic Bill Haydon, All Quiet on the Western Front’s Felix Kammerer as Hans-Dieter Mundt and Agnes O’Casey, who reprises her Spy Who Came In From The Cold West End role of Liz Gold.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
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The enigmatic Dr Hill, played again by Peter Stormare will return for the game.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Its dark terrain is constantly changing due to lava flows from Kilauea or Mauna Loa – two of the most active volcanoes in the world, according to the National Park Service website.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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Some find the last scene ambiguous, multivalent; some dark; others comic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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From tasting menus that spotlight a single grain variety to butcher counters featuring specific heritage breeds, professional kitchens are translating obscure agricultural choices into experiences diners remember.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
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What obscure motive lay behind this one?—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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But their inner lives don’t hold shape the way her little girls (and boys) do, with their uncanny dialogue and idiosyncratic observations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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Eastern Forest Tick Examined under a microscope, this minuscule parasite bears an uncanny resemblance to your childhood bully, right down to its mullet and Van Halen T-shirt.—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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That’s a pity, because with further refinement, Girl, Interrupted could go deeper.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
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But, of course, the spotlight is on deep discounts and a focus on the marketplace’s Brand+ channel where shoppers can find trusted, global brands (with official product authentication).—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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