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
Hank Shteamer, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2023
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
Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 July 2025
From parts of the Pacific and northern South America, the moon will occult Mars for about an hour, according to In-The-Sky.org.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for occult
Adjective
Speaking of infernal-sounding, pay close attention around the 4:30 mark here, and witness the occult-metal mastery of Mercyful Fate riffsmith Hank Shermann, abetted by his trusty partner Michael Denner.
—Hank Shteamer, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2023
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
Verb
Below are two timetables giving local circumstances for the disappearance and reappearance of the four brightest members of the Pleiades that will be occulted.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 July 2025
From parts of the Pacific and northern South America, the moon will occult Mars for about an hour, according to In-The-Sky.org.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for occult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occult
Adjective
-
With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Beyond this, the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton X-Ray observatory also studied this spiral galaxy repeatedly and found mysterious regions known as ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs).—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike Europe's clear regulatory framework under PSD2, American enterprises operate in a more ambiguous environment where implementation decisions must account for evolving compliance requirements and uncertain regulatory timelines.—
Dave Glaser,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Dani's on-again, off-again relationship with playboy photographer Andre — who's also her sister's ex's nephew — has become more ambiguous than ever in recent weeks.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But then an unexpected source of magic changes everything, per an official synopsis.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Easy access to the beach and nearby town, one of Mexico’s pueblos mágicos—magic towns, rife with historic, cultural and artistic importance—makes Desierto Azul ideal for a varied escape.—
Carley Rojas Ávila,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bill would prohibit federal and local law enforcement officers from wearing masks that obscure their identity during public-facing operations, with exemptions for medical and undercover purposes.—
Amelia Wu,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Justin shares Jack with wife Hailey Baldwin Bieber, and while the couple often shares photos of their son, his face is often obscured.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But Fellowes remains cryptic when asked about possible spinoff series or films.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The Maine native has a history of using her outfits to send cryptic messages.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet Blanc’s real faith lies in the nearly mystic quality involved in seeing what the human animal is capable of.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, the concept means to be a resistance against what the early-twentieth-century Catholic mystic philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin called the noosphere, which for him converges throughout human history.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The plaque used the words magical, alluring, galvanizing and adventurous, and their initials spelled MAGA.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Or, for something simpler and just as magical, step outside after dark and watch the Milky Way stretch and swirl above you.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Responding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Senate Bill 627 would prohibit law enforcement on the local, state and federal level from wearing masks that conceal their identity in the course of duty.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
There are three other food and beverage venues, including El Secreto, a hidden salon and bar, quietly concealed behind an unmarked door on the hotel’s second floor, and La Cava, the adjacent emerald-toned jewel that is Faena’s wine cellar, an intimate setting for unforgettable private gatherings.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
AFAR Media,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Occult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occult. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share