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 Whether that will translate into more playing time is a mystery. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025 Like the book, the show wastes no time establishing the mystery surrounding Cadence's accident before back-tracking and introducing viewers to the family of ... suspects? Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2025 Solve the mystery and you’ll be ushered into a dark hallway with replicas of the artifacts Goldberg kept from his victims, all the way back to Guinevere Beck in Season 1. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025 But for 130 years, the location of the infamous roots was a mystery. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mystery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystery
Noun
  • The Dodge Demon is a bit of an enigma, with most modern muscle cars not nearly as extreme in their quest for straight line acceleration.
    Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Pool/Getty Images Europe Though the modern era has expanded humanity's knowledge in many ways, the papal conclave remains an enigma.
    Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Note: Most subscribers have some, but not all, of the puzzles that correspond to the following set of solutions for their local newspaper.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • Still, these numeric puzzles remain a foundational component of everything from calculating planetary orbits to computer programming.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Agatha Christie lived a life shrouded in mystery yet now the BBC is attempting to solve the riddle using artificial intelligence to bring the iconic author back to life.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
  • There’s secrets, codes, riddles and all sorts of fun stuff.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • When coffee roasters describe their coffee as big, full-bodied, or round, this is a sign of a bean that's desperate to give up its secrets and so is more likely to extract fully and richly.
    Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Because why should surgery have to be such a secret?
    Glamour, Glamour, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Are some flights more likely to experience crew duty clock problems?
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Video game players are notorious for malicious language even without money on the line—a problem console makers and online gaming service providers Microsoft and Sony have long struggled to solve.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mystery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystery. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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