Synonyms of mystery

mystery

noun

ˈmi-st(ə-)rē 

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

• enigma
• puzzle
• riddle
• secret
• problem
• conundrum
• matter
• challenge
• why
• mystification
• puzzlement
• closed book
• head-scratcher
• perplexity
• case
• trouble
• poser
• brainteaser
• stumper
• knot

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

Recent Examples of mystery

In addition, Lind played the young version of Amanda Clarke (Emily VanCamp) in a recurring role on the ABC mystery thriller Revenge from 2011-2015, and the recurring role of Ariel on the CBS medical drama Code Black from 2015-2018. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

The series flashes between the two summers, as Cadence tries to solve the mystery of her amnesia and what has happened with her family’s various characters. —Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 2 July 2025

With the entire dataset open to the public, the team hopes the fresh eyes, as well as graduate and undergraduate astronomers, will uncover something new and unlock clues about cosmic mysteries like dark matter and the physics of the early universe. —Jay Kakade june 22, New Atlas, 22 June 2025

But two new studies — which researchers say are among the biggest paleoanthropology papers of the year — detail how scientists were able to extract genetic material from the fossil and help unravel this biological mystery. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 21 June 2025