1
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the occult ways in which the human mind works
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
an occult reference in the text that has puzzled scholars ever since
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in magic
having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers
Great Britain's Stonehenge is one of those occult places where people expect something of cosmic significance to happen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to obscure
to keep secret or shut off from view
occulted their house from prying eyes by planting large trees around it the actor's private life had long been occulted by a contrived public persona
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 occult
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Jan. 2023
Other screening options include annual fecal occult blood tests which look for blood in the stool.
—Janelle Chavez, CNN, 19 Jan. 2023
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Of course, many other (fainter) stars will also be occulted during the moon's 2-to-3-hour passage through the cluster.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for occult
Adjective
It’s a determinedly non-jokey supernatural thriller in which a group of Adelaide teens get in way over their heads playing an occult party game.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Jan. 2023
Other screening options include annual fecal occult blood tests which look for blood in the stool.
—Janelle Chavez, CNN, 19 Jan. 2023
Verb
When was it occulted by the moon?
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Of course, many other (fainter) stars will also be occulted during the moon's 2-to-3-hour passage through the cluster.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for occult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occult
Adjective
-
Dipping in and out of this book over a few months might inspire a new reverence for the mysterious human body.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
-
The family adventure show is set at mysterious Crookhaven School where high achieving young crooks from across the world are secretly selected to hone their skills in disciplines such as deception, crimnastics, forgery and infiltration.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
While critical thinking is invaluable, the tendency to fixate on ambiguous data points—many of which pertain to uncontrollable external factors—can lead to unnecessary stress.—
Davide Sartini,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
The two were previously involved in a morally ambiguous mission gone wrong, which led to Vincent murdering an undercover cop.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
However, kombucha is not a magic fix for weight management.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
13 May 2025
-
For their next act, Jude Law and Andrew Garfield are pulling off a magic trick.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
Again the water spray obscured what happened there just before the twister lost its power.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
10 May 2025
-
Derrick White and Jrue Holiday were almost good enough to obscure the absence of Brown and Tatum in the game’s final 20 minutes.—
Bill Speros,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
Neither Henry nor Devers have been willing to detail that conversation until now, as Devers finally broke his silence on the discussion with a cryptic four-word message.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
-
Still, his message ended on a cheerful note that showed the musician seems to be taking the cryptic dismissal in stride.—
Glenn Rowley,
Billboard,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Among employees, he had been known as a deep thinker and even something of a mystic, regularly speaking in spiritual terms.—
Karen Hao,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
-
Lag BaOmer celebrates the anniversary of the passing of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.—
Rabbi Moishe Kievman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Mornings at Huka are magical as mists lift from the river and cloak the gardens of tree ferns, flax, totara, and rimu pines.—
Kendall Hill,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2025
-
Don't: Forget About the Ceiling People often neglect the ceiling, but adding some color or even a pattern up there can create an enveloping, magical effect.—
Eleni N. Gage,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
According to dark money hawks, this pass-through funding tactic allows Qatar to conceal state backing as private sector contributions.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 May 2025
-
Johnson claimed that Combs’ team went to extreme lengths to conceal the video, alleging that Florez was offered $100,000 to keep the footage a secret.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Occult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occult. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share