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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mysterious
This concept, introduced by researchers at MIT and collaborating institutions, could fundamentally change how scientists study some of the universe’s most mysterious particles.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
In the trailer, the sisters must leave their homes on a mysterious adventure.
—Katie Simons, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And no creature has ever done it with more flair than an octopus named Inky, who vanished from the National Aquarium of New Zealand in 2016 in a breakout worthy of a storybook — complete with a daring nighttime crawl, a mysterious drainpipe and an ending nobody saw coming.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
After being injected with a mysterious serum, Gabriel is endowed with unprecedented abilities.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
In the trailer, the sisters must leave their homes on a mysterious adventure.
—Katie Simons, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And no creature has ever done it with more flair than an octopus named Inky, who vanished from the National Aquarium of New Zealand in 2016 in a breakout worthy of a storybook — complete with a daring nighttime crawl, a mysterious drainpipe and an ending nobody saw coming.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
After being injected with a mysterious serum, Gabriel is endowed with unprecedented abilities.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mysterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious
Adjective
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Simultaneously, the solo careers of fellow Pornographers Neko Case and Dan Bejar had begun to take flight—Case as maybe the greatest country torch singer of her generation, and Bejar in his cryptic Leonard Cohen-adjacent auteur mode as Destroyer.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
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There’s a mysterious new leader of EON (ExtraOrdinary Observation and Neutralization), according to a cryptic summary.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Bieber has had clashes with the paparazzi, and has sent ambiguous messages over social media hinting at his sorrow.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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While data centers represent tangible ways in which AI is changing our lives, the more abstract and ambiguous fears are coming to a boil, as well.—
Lorena O’Neil,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Charlie's Angels centered on three private investigators who, under orders from their enigmatic but never visible boss, Charlie Townsend, solved cases together using their wits and style.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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An investigation by The New York Times used biographical details and writing style comparisons to make the case that Adam Back was the cryptocurrency’s enigmatic founder.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Set dark green pieces aside separately.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
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Thanks to its high altitude and exceptionally dark skies, this location offers stunning views of the Milky Way and countless stars.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
21 Apr. 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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Enforcement will soon begin on an obscure New York City law passed in 2009 that requires most businesses to replace traditional solid roll-down security gates with versions that are at least 70% transparent.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Upon finding an obscure Latin translation of Howard’s in Nancy’s notebook, Mary realizes the two were having an affair before her death and confronts Howard, who vehemently denies any involvement with Nancy.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jaafar Jackson does bear an uncanny resemblance to his late uncle, and clearly knows how to replicate his signature moves, his physical fluidity, his beaming smile reserved for fans, animals, and hospital residents.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
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Juxtaposed to Colman Domingo’s blustering portrayal of Joe Jackson and Jaafar Jackson’s uncanny performance as his late uncle Michael, Long has found a way to make silence load-bearing.—
Zeba Blay,
SELF,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Wheatley isn’t a sudden-twitch mover and the tackling can get messy, but the size, awareness and ability to play deep, in the slot or around the box should keep him in the Day 2 conversation.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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From high enough in the sky, the clouds look like thick cotton being pulled from a deep-blue couch.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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