Definition of mysterynext
as in enigma
something hard to understand or explain why my sister married that guy is still a mystery to my parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mystery differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mystery are enigma, problem, puzzle, and riddle. While all these words mean "something which baffles or perplexes," mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.

the mystery of the stone monoliths

Where would enigma be a reasonable alternative to mystery?

While the synonyms enigma and mystery are close in meaning, enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.

his suicide remains an enigma

When might problem be a better fit than mystery?

The words problem and mystery can be used in similar contexts, but problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.

problems created by high technology

When is puzzle a more appropriate choice than mystery?

The synonyms puzzle and mystery are sometimes interchangeable, but puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.

the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police

When is it sensible to use riddle instead of mystery?

Although the words riddle and mystery have much in common, riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.

the riddle of the reclusive pop star

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 mystery One of life’s abiding mysteries—at least to this writer—has been Tesla’s enduring success over recent years despite offering so few choices for customers. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026 When Pakzad and one of her friends left their Airbnb in the wee hours of the morning, a mystery man attempted to trap them in their cul-de-sac with his car, then pursued them down the freeway at 100 MPH. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026 Your favorite mystery writer has been keeping her own secret for over a decade. Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026 Deepening the mystery is evidence that the settlement was destroyed by fire. Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mystery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystery
Noun
  • An enigma in tinted glass, its signature flavor comes from a compound that may or may not come from actual nuts.
    Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
  • While the fort remains an enigma, archeologists hope that further examination will reveal more information about the site’s builders and their story.
    Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In other words, the solution to the problem of the past hypothesis puzzle, or why the Universe possessed a low-entropy state at the start of the hot Big Bang, is because the Universe underwent a period of cosmic inflation.
    Big Think, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
    Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As if she’d been presented with a tidy, screw-like riddle from the Sphynx.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Emmie’s condition is an interpretative riddle for both her parents and the reader.
    Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The third season will deal with a rebellion that threatens to tear Alabasta apart, fueled in secret by one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the ruthless Sir Crocodile, and his underground syndicate Baroque Works, who seek to conquer the kingdom for themselves.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Of course, the wedding turns into a powder keg of secrets, and the orderly proceedings blow up in the protagonists’ faces and leave a trail of emotional and physical pain.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This was the problem with conjuring my mother.
    Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Rising to the #1 spot signals strong business fundamentals, consumer trust and a product that genuinely solves a modern pet owner’s problem.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mystery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystery. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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