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 Only Murders in the Building Who wants a cozy mystery? Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Motive remains a mystery Neither side has publicly discussed a motive for the shooting. Andy Rose, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025 Daniel Jones Jones is a bit of mystery. Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025 Cartier horologist Maurice Couët created the Parisian label’s first mystery clock, the Model A, in 1912, drawing inspiration from a magical design Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin unveiled almost a century prior. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mystery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystery
Noun
  • More Michael Owens/Getty Images Leonard has always been regarded as an enigma because of his chronic injury problems and his extremely introverted (and some would say odd) personality.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The formula for a modern-day It-girl is both something of an enigma and pretty simple.
    Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Looking for a free mini puzzle?
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Looking for a free mini puzzle?
    Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Refusing to simply hand the viewer a conclusion, Penn leaves Hackman spinning his boat in the warm Gulf waters, an iconic visual metaphor for the confusion and frustration of his unanswerable riddle — and perhaps of his entire era.
    Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Representing himself in the case, Routh submitted three filings to the court, all of which were filled with unusual sentiments and riddles with typos.
    Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Isolated by his cultural disconnection, Daniel finds solace in Ema, a girl who will unearth the Riedels’ dark secrets to him.
    Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In The Paris Widow, a dream vacation turns deadly when secrets from the past catch up to a married couple in Paris.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Today, Anousheh is the CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation, an organization that has helped solve massive social problems by setting grand challenges for teams to compete and solve.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Folks, the problem is not the sign, the decor or the politics.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mystery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystery. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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