cryptic
adjective
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The Mysterious Origins of Cryptic
The history of cryptic starts with kryptein, a Greek word meaning "to hide." Can you uncover other kryptein relatives in English? Not surprisingly, crypt, meaning "underground chamber," is one. The element krypton would be another correct guess, and so would apocrypha, which can mean "writings of dubious authenticity." Kryptein also gave us several words having to do with secret codes, such as cryptogram ("a communication in cipher or code") and cryptography ("the coding and decoding of secret messages"). And cryptocurrency is currency that exists digitally and that relies on computer encryption (secret code) to prevent counterfeiting and fraud.
Synonyms
- arcane
- deep
- enigmatic
- enigmatical
- impenetrable
- inscrutable
- mysterious
- mystic
- occult
- uncanny
Example Sentences
Donna Seaman, Booklist, 15 Mar. 1994 Since Hughes's poems contained neither Eliot's footnotes nor Ezra Pound's cryptic orientalism, many critics and editors assumed the poet unintelligent and his work raw or, at best, slight. Rita Dove, New York Times Book Review, 9 Oct. 1988 The remark seemed cryptic to Philip, but when he heard her say it two or three times to different persons, and found that it aroused hearty agreement, he came to the conclusion that it was only obscure to his own intelligence. W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage, 1915 His instructions were cryptic. He said only to wait until we felt certain the answer was clear. puzzled by the cryptic e-mail message left on his computer Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2022 Conspiracy theories exploit all three of these tools by publicizing cryptic but real photos, quotes and facts, and then layering wild and dangerous stories on top of them. Kareem Saleh, Forbes, 4 May 2021 After months of filming on location in Montana (and enjoying visits from his wife and kids), Cole shared a somewhat cryptic message on Instagram. Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 27 Aug. 2022 The next day, Green posted a cryptic message to Instagram, marking his wife’s birthday. ELLE, 21 Aug. 2022 The true identity of the man who commissioned the monoliths and the meaning behind its cryptic 10-part message inscribed in eight languages remain unknown. Amanda Pérez Pintado, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 Miller delivered a cryptic message aimed at a Ku Klux Klan chapter in North Carolina. Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Aug. 2022 In the control room, Bernard leaves a cryptic message on a tablet before coming face-to-face with the Host in Black, who monologues before shooting Bernard in the chest. Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2022 Willow previously shared a cryptic message in some tweets shortly after her dad resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Glenn Garner, Peoplemag, 6 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
borrowed from Late Latin crypticus "hidden," borrowed from Late Greek kryptikós "obscuring" (Greek kryptikôs "secretly"), from kryptós "hidden, secret" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at crypt
1620, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Kids Definition
cryptic
adjective
Medical Definition
cryptic
adjective
cryptic
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- mysterious
- enigmatic
- obscure
- mystic
- uncanny
- ambiguous
- inscrutable
- enigmatical
- occult
- vague
- dark
- deep
- arcane
- confusing
- unexplainable
- murky
- impenetrable
- mystical
- esoteric
- unintelligible
- metaphysical
- incomprehensible
- shadowy
- fuzzy
- puzzling
- equivocal
- darkling
- baffling
- mystifying
- inexplicable
- perplexing
- supernatural
- bewildering
- abstruse
- recondite
- unfathomable
- confounding
- unknowable
- unaccountable
- befuddling
- unanswerable
- imponderable
- unsearchable
- numinous
- disorienting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- intelligible
- understandable
- obvious
- clear
- plain
- unambiguous
- apparent
- unequivocal
- straightforward
- evident
- transparent
- unmistakable
- perspicuous
- fathomable
- manifest
- palpable
- patent
- open-and-shut
Synonyms & Similar Words
- ambiguous
- enigmatic
- obscure
- mysterious
- dark
- mystic
- esoteric
- vague
- enigmatical
- unclear
- inscrutable
- murky
- opaque
- occult
- arcane
- nebulous
- questionable
- equivocal
- confusing
- uncertain
- deep
- elliptical
- complicated
- obscurant
- fuliginous
- weird
- Delphic
- eerie
- indecipherable
- abstruse
- elliptic
- recondite
- puzzling
- uncanny
- incomprehensible
- fuzzy
- indirect
- noncommittal
- disguised
- shadowy
- concealed
- complex
- double-edged
- shrouded
- baffling
- obfuscatory
- indistinct
- cloaked
- perplexing
- masked
- hazy
- difficult
- inexplicable
- mystifying
- foggy
- faint
- bewildering
- sphinxlike
- misty
- shaded
- clouded
- undefined
- inexact
- confounding
- indefinite
- obtuse
- impenetrable
- inexplicit
- indistinguishable
- invisible
- cloudy
- muddy
- undetermined
- unknowable
- dim
- beclouded
- circuitous
- unanswerable
- eery
- bedimmed
- unfathomable
- intangible
- obscurantic
- shadowlike
- befogged
- roundabout
- impalpable
- obnubilated
- inappreciable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obvious
- clear
- plain
- unambiguous
- unequivocal
- intelligible
- understandable
- accessible
- legible
- distinct
- comprehensible
- certain
- evident
- bright
- explicit
- pellucid
- knowable
- strong
- direct
- sure
- straightforward
- nonambiguous
- self-explanatory
- fathomable
- defined
- definite
- exact
- visible
- firm
- determined
- blatant
- tangible
- self-evident
- unmistakable
- appreciable
- palpable
- patent
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of cryptic are ambiguous, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.
While the synonyms ambiguous and cryptic are close in meaning, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.
The words dark and cryptic can be used in similar contexts, but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.
The words enigmatic and cryptic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.
Although the words equivocal and cryptic have much in common, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.
While in some cases nearly identical to cryptic, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.
The synonyms vague and cryptic are sometimes interchangeable, but vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.