enigmatic

adjective

enig·mat·ic ˌe-(ˌ)nig-ˈma-tik How to pronounce enigmatic (audio)

also ˌē-(ˌ)nig-

variants or less commonly enigmatical

ˌe-(ˌ)nig-ˈma-ti-kəl How to pronounce enigmatic (audio)

also ˌē-(ˌ)nig-

: of, relating to, or resembling an enigma : mysterious

enigmatically

ˌe-(ˌ)nig-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce enigmatic (audio)

also ˌē-(ˌ)nig-

adverb

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The Origin of Enigmatic Isn't a Mystery

An enigma is a puzzle, a riddle, a mystery. The adjective enigmatic describes what is hard to solve or figure out. An enigmatic person is someone who is a bit mysterious to others. Behind an enigmatic smile are thoughts impossible to guess. The word enigma originally referred not to people or smiles but to words, and specifically to words that formed a riddle or a complicated metaphor that tested one's alertness and cleverness. This meaning is clearly connected to the word's origin. Enigma comes from the Greek word ainissesthai, meaning "to speak in riddles."

Example Sentences

Space seethes with an enormous enigmatic energy, and, each second, trillions of cubic light-years more of it materializes from nothingness.

Bob Berman, Astronomy, November 2007 You'll recognize them by their enigmatic smile and faraway look as they jog, skate, commute, or wander the aisles of the supermarket.

Consumer Reports, December 2005 Despite all that has been written—and surmised—about him, Bill Gates remains the enigmatic ringmaster of the digital circus.

J. D. Reed, People, 15 Mar. 1999 the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile

Recent Examples on the Web Lucid and elegantly written, his stories feature the Central Valley as a recurring character of enigmatic presence.

Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2022 Athari didn’t get much of an opportunity to shine during his brief tenure on the show, but his Angelo -- the enigmatic nightclub singer who could instantly turn any word into a song -- was perhaps the most memorable new character of the season.

Joey Morona, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 Clark, an enigmatic firebrand until the end, retired suddenly this summer and handed his life’s work over to assistant coach Bryant Vincent.

Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 The film opens with an enigmatic shot of a text-message exchange, which will gradually pierce us as its meaning comes to light.

Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 By teasing apart the theories one by one, researchers are gaining a greater understanding of this enigmatic illness and inching closer to therapies that don’t just mask symptoms but eliminate the root cause.

Marla Broadfoot, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Aug. 2022 His films are grand in scope, enigmatic in meaning and rarely boring.

Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 July 2022 But its handling of the covid crisis has been particularly enigmatic, with potentially long-lasting ramifications for the welfare of its people — and neighboring countries — amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 The show, starring Alicia Vikander as a film star appearing in a director’s remake of his own movie into a streaming series, has been by turns playfully funny, emotionally vulnerable and mystically enigmatic.

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022 See More

enigmatic

adjective

variants also enigmatical

as in mysterious

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

mysterious
cryptic
ambiguous
mystic
obscure
uncanny
inscrutable
unexplainable
confusing
mystical
impenetrable
arcane
occult
shadowy
esoteric
vague
murky
fuzzy
incomprehensible
inexplicable
dark
unintelligible
unknowable
deep
equivocal
unfathomable
darkling
perplexing
baffling
unanswerable
imponderable
puzzling
unaccountable
confounding
mystifying
bewildering
metaphysical
supernatural
recondite
abstruse
numinous
unsearchable
befuddling
disorienting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

understandable
intelligible
obvious
unmistakable
apparent
clear
evident
fathomable
unequivocal
unambiguous
straightforward
transparent
plain
perspicuous
manifest
palpable
patent
open-and-shut

as in dark

having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile

Synonyms & Similar Words

dark
mysterious
cryptic
ambiguous
inscrutable
vague
obscure
mystic
complex
clouded
faint
nebulous
opaque
dim
equivocal
difficult
deep
arcane
occult
murky
elliptical
esoteric
shadowy
fuliginous
misty
elliptic
Delphic
recondite
uncertain
abstruse
masked
inexplicable
shrouded
incomprehensible
double-edged
indistinct
unclear
eerie
fuzzy
indecipherable
sphinxlike
confusing
perplexing
undefined
baffling
questionable
puzzling
unknowable
disguised
cloaked
mystifying
confounding
hazy
invisible
concealed
undetermined
bewildering
foggy
muddy
noncommittal
unanswerable
impenetrable
intangible
complicated
weird
shaded
indefinite
uncanny
indistinguishable
inexact
obtuse
cloudy
unfathomable
obfuscatory
inexplicit
beclouded
obscurant
impalpable
obscurantic
befogged
indirect
shadowlike
eery
inappreciable
circuitous
bedimmed
obnubilated
roundabout

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

obvious
clear
unequivocal
unambiguous
distinct
plain
accessible
understandable
comprehensible
intelligible
certain
evident
bright
knowable
legible
strong
sure
fathomable
nonambiguous
pellucid
straightforward
direct
explicit
defined
determined
firm
definite
unmistakable
self-explanatory
exact
visible
tangible
self-evident
appreciable
palpable
blatant
patent

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of enigmatic are ambiguous, cryptic, dark, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

In some situations, the words ambiguous and enigmatic are roughly equivalent. However, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

The meanings of cryptic and enigmatic largely overlap; however, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

While in some cases nearly identical to enigmatic, dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

Although the words equivocal and enigmatic have much in common, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

The synonyms obscure and enigmatic are sometimes interchangeable, but obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

The words vague and enigmatic can be used in similar contexts, but vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

单词	enigmatic
释义	enigmatic adjective enig·mat·ic ˌe-(ˌ)nig-ˈma-tik also ˌē-(ˌ)nig- variants or less commonly enigmatical ˌe-(ˌ)nig-ˈma-ti-kəl also ˌē-(ˌ)nig- : of, relating to, or resembling an enigma : mysterious enigmatically ˌe-(ˌ)nig-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē also ˌē-(ˌ)nig- adverb Did you know? The Origin of Enigmatic Isn't a Mystery An enigma is a puzzle, a riddle, a mystery. The adjective enigmatic describes what is hard to solve or figure out. An enigmatic person is someone who is a bit mysterious to others. Behind an enigmatic smile are thoughts impossible to guess. The word enigma originally referred not to people or smiles but to words, and specifically to words that formed a riddle or a complicated metaphor that tested one's alertness and cleverness. This meaning is clearly connected to the word's origin. Enigma comes from the Greek word ainissesthai, meaning "to speak in riddles." Synonyms arcane cryptic deep impenetrable inscrutable mysterious mystic occult uncanny See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Space seethes with an enormous enigmatic energy, and, each second, trillions of cubic light-years more of it materializes from nothingness. Bob Berman, Astronomy, November 2007 You'll recognize them by their enigmatic smile and faraway look as they jog, skate, commute, or wander the aisles of the supermarket. Consumer Reports, December 2005 Despite all that has been written—and surmised—about him, Bill Gates remains the enigmatic ringmaster of the digital circus. J. D. Reed, People, 15 Mar. 1999 the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile Recent Examples on the Web Lucid and elegantly written, his stories feature the Central Valley as a recurring character of enigmatic presence. Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2022 Athari didn’t get much of an opportunity to shine during his brief tenure on the show, but his Angelo -- the enigmatic nightclub singer who could instantly turn any word into a song -- was perhaps the most memorable new character of the season. Joey Morona, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 Clark, an enigmatic firebrand until the end, retired suddenly this summer and handed his life’s work over to assistant coach Bryant Vincent. Joseph Goodman \| Jgoodman@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 The film opens with an enigmatic shot of a text-message exchange, which will gradually pierce us as its meaning comes to light. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 By teasing apart the theories one by one, researchers are gaining a greater understanding of this enigmatic illness and inching closer to therapies that don’t just mask symptoms but eliminate the root cause. Marla Broadfoot, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Aug. 2022 His films are grand in scope, enigmatic in meaning and rarely boring. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 July 2022 But its handling of the covid crisis has been particularly enigmatic, with potentially long-lasting ramifications for the welfare of its people — and neighboring countries — amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 The show, starring Alicia Vikander as a film star appearing in a director’s remake of his own movie into a streaming series, has been by turns playfully funny, emotionally vulnerable and mystically enigmatic. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology see enigma First Known Use 1609, in the meaning defined above enigmatic adjective variants also enigmatical 1 as in mysterious being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the discovery of the abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance mysterious cryptic ambiguous mystic obscure uncanny inscrutable unexplainable confusing mystical impenetrable arcane occult shadowy esoteric vague murky fuzzy incomprehensible inexplicable dark unintelligible unknowable deep equivocal unfathomable darkling perplexing baffling unanswerable imponderable puzzling unaccountable confounding mystifying bewildering metaphysical supernatural recondite abstruse numinous unsearchable befuddling disorienting Antonyms & Near Antonyms understandable intelligible obvious unmistakable apparent clear evident fathomable unequivocal unambiguous straightforward transparent plain perspicuous manifest palpable patent open-and-shut See More 2 as in dark having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile Synonyms & Similar Words dark mysterious cryptic ambiguous inscrutable vague obscure mystic complex clouded faint nebulous opaque dim equivocal difficult deep arcane occult murky elliptical esoteric shadowy fuliginous misty elliptic Delphic recondite uncertain abstruse masked inexplicable shrouded incomprehensible double-edged indistinct unclear eerie fuzzy indecipherable sphinxlike confusing perplexing undefined baffling questionable puzzling unknowable disguised cloaked mystifying confounding hazy invisible concealed undetermined bewildering foggy muddy noncommittal unanswerable impenetrable intangible complicated weird shaded indefinite uncanny indistinguishable inexact obtuse cloudy unfathomable obfuscatory inexplicit beclouded obscurant impalpable obscurantic befogged indirect shadowlike eery inappreciable circuitous bedimmed obnubilated roundabout Antonyms & Near Antonyms obvious clear unequivocal unambiguous distinct plain accessible understandable comprehensible intelligible certain evident bright knowable legible strong sure fathomable nonambiguous pellucid straightforward direct explicit defined determined firm definite unmistakable self-explanatory exact visible tangible self-evident appreciable palpable blatant patent See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of enigmatic are ambiguous, cryptic, dark, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality. enigmatic occult writings In some situations, the words ambiguous and enigmatic are roughly equivalent. However, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation. an ambiguous directive The meanings of cryptic and enigmatic largely overlap; however, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. cryptic hints of hidden treasure While in some cases nearly identical to enigmatic, dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. muttered dark hints of revenge Although the words equivocal and enigmatic have much in common, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading. moral precepts with equivocal phrasing The synonyms obscure and enigmatic are sometimes interchangeable, but obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge. obscure poems The words vague and enigmatic can be used in similar contexts, but vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration. a vague sense of obligation
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enigmatic

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective

Synonym Chooser