orphic

adjective

Definition of orphicnext
as in mystical

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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 orphic Sonia Delaunay’s Electric Prisms (1913), with its titular nod to advances in electricity still relatively new at the time, underscores the decidedly urban tenor of Orphic painting in this regard. — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019 Readers mystified by any of the author’s orphic lingo will find full explanations in the book’s extensive glossary. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2018 As if fearing that too lyrical an approach to such an orphic figure would result in incoherence, Gooch describes this poet’s life in a decidedly unpoetic way. — The Washington Post, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orphic
  1. mystical
  2. mystic
  3. mysterious
  4. enigmatic
  5. uncanny
  6. inscrutable
  7. complex
  8. darkling
Adjective
  • However, the allure to this is far beyond this mystical appeal.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The north of England has always had a mystical rock’n’roll landscape all of its own, and while Liverpool will always have The Beatles, Manchester — less than an hour’s drive away — will forever be the thinking muso’s mecca.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of mystical
Adjective
  • What’s more, even without steering, the bots were prone to mystic ruminations.
    — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Take The Night Veils, for example, which seeks to capture the spirit of the night through fragrances that can best be described as primal and mystic.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of mystic
Adjective
  • Set on England’s southern coast after an unexplained catastrophe, the darkly comic novel follows a beachcomber who encounters a mysterious, shape-shifting artifact.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Explore mysterious magical realms as Lola, a young witch, and forge pacts with powerful Familiar bosses to turn enemies into allies.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of mysterious
Adjective
  • Even your biggest hits have something of an enigmatic quality.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Today, this Chilean territory is essentially an open-air archaeological museum, with many of its enigmatic moai (representations of Polynesian ancestors) returned to their upright positions following seven decades of restoration.
    — Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of enigmatic
Adjective
  • Dowler-Guerrero said Raman had an uncanny ability to get people organized and always had an unwavering belief in her own ability to get things done.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The suggestion is that the algorithms responsible for animating his uncanny likeness have also managed to bring him back from the dead, reassembling him piece by piece.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncanny
Adjective
  • The band’s inscrutable lyrics and ramshackle approach make for songs that feel like unintentional and effortless anthems, rock ’n’ roll castoffs that catalyzed new possibilities.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Minaj also reposted the video, adding an inscrutable combination of an American flag and a grinning face with a sweat drop.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of inscrutable
Adjective
  • Integrating optical components into ion-trap devices could reduce the need for complex external laser arrangements as processors scale to more qubits.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The technology is rapidly transforming the way people work, in part by eliminating some of the busy work and tedium of manual workflows, freeing up time for employees to focus on more complex issues.
    — S. Sorrina Beecher, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of complex
Adjective
  • Its 19th-century spire lit up like a matchstick against the darkling sky, its tip cracking and plunging through the ceiling.
    — Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of darkling

Browse Nearby Words

orphaned
orphic
orthodox
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Cite this Entry

“Orphic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orphic. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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