inscrutable
adjective
in·scru·ta·ble in-ˈskrü-tə-bəl 
: not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood : mysterious
an inscrutable smile
inscrutable motives
inscrutability
in-ˌskrü-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun inscrutableness
in-ˈskrü-tə-bəl-nəs
noun inscrutably
in-ˈskrü-tə-blē
adverb 
Did you know?
Scrutinizing the inscrutable may be futile: even close scrutiny can fail to decipher it. Scrutinizing the scrutable, on the other hand, is likely to yield some understanding. All of these scrut- words have the same Latin root: scrutari, meaning “to search or examine.” While scrutiny, scrutinize, and inscrutable all prove themselves useful in everyday discourse, English speakers don’t tend to call much on scrutable, which functions as a synonym of comprehensible.
Synonyms
- arcane
- cryptic
- deep
- enigmatic
- enigmatical
- impenetrable
- mysterious
- mystic
- occult
- uncanny
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Supersymmetry is a magic mirror, and everything in what we imagine to be the real world has its ghostly, inscrutable mirror image. 
Ian Stewart, Prospect, September 2003 Of all the myths that have grown up around Alan Greenspan, the most powerful is the idea that he's willfully inscrutable. James Surowiecki, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2001 That wily politicians might adopt Franklin's distinction between appearance and reality to become inscrutable confidence men did not seem to trouble him. John H. Summers, Journal of American History, December 2000 an inscrutable work of art He was a quiet, inscrutable man.
Ian Stewart, Prospect, September 2003 Of all the myths that have grown up around Alan Greenspan, the most powerful is the idea that he's willfully inscrutable. James Surowiecki, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2001 That wily politicians might adopt Franklin's distinction between appearance and reality to become inscrutable confidence men did not seem to trouble him. John H. Summers, Journal of American History, December 2000 an inscrutable work of art He was a quiet, inscrutable man. Recent Examples on the Web Kaluuya’s literal blackness, featured in a shaded, climactic close-up, is almost indiscernible even in IMAX, making his countenance inscrutable. Armond White, National Review, 22 July 2022 Among his friends and colleagues, Blazy is famous—or notorious—for eclectic reference points, most noticeably in his often inscrutable mood boards. Nathan Heller, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2022 Business leaders report that the multicloud data bills are inscrutable and, often, literally thick. Dave Mosley, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 In a suburban office park, the signs aren’t so inscrutable. New York Times, 5 July 2022 Waugh stares at his Zoom camera for a good few seconds with an inscrutable smile. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 23 Sep. 2021 But after a long period of inscrutable dithering, Manchin pulled the rug out from under BBB, and seemingly any hope for meaningful climate legislation. Adam Sobel, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 His Church of San Carlos Borromeo in Milan, completed in 1967, bears an inscrutable gray façade punctured by a geometric arrangement of slit and diamond-shaped windows that harbor a light and soaring space within. Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Its hero’s emotions could gently be described as inscrutable. David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2022 See More
Armond White, National Review, 22 July 2022 Among his friends and colleagues, Blazy is famous—or notorious—for eclectic reference points, most noticeably in his often inscrutable mood boards. Nathan Heller, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2022 Business leaders report that the multicloud data bills are inscrutable and, often, literally thick. Dave Mosley, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 In a suburban office park, the signs aren’t so inscrutable. New York Times, 5 July 2022 Waugh stares at his Zoom camera for a good few seconds with an inscrutable smile. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 23 Sep. 2021 But after a long period of inscrutable dithering, Manchin pulled the rug out from under BBB, and seemingly any hope for meaningful climate legislation. Adam Sobel, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 His Church of San Carlos Borromeo in Milan, completed in 1967, bears an inscrutable gray façade punctured by a geometric arrangement of slit and diamond-shaped windows that harbor a light and soaring space within. Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Its hero’s emotions could gently be described as inscrutable. David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Late Latin inscrutabilis, from Latin in- + scrutari to search — more at scrutiny
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
inscrutable
adjective
1
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mysterious
- cryptic
- enigmatic
- obscure
- uncanny
- mystic
- enigmatical
- ambiguous
- impenetrable
- dark
- unexplainable
- murky
- occult
- arcane
- vague
- deep
- confusing
- mystical
- incomprehensible
- esoteric
- inexplicable
- shadowy
- unintelligible
- unfathomable
- unknowable
- imponderable
- fuzzy
- metaphysical
- baffling
- unsearchable
- unanswerable
- unaccountable
- bewildering
- perplexing
- confounding
- mystifying
- equivocal
- abstruse
- darkling
- puzzling
- recondite
- befuddling
- supernatural
- numinous
- disorienting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- understandable
- intelligible
- obvious
- fathomable
- unmistakable
- apparent
- straightforward
- plain
- unambiguous
- clear
- evident
- transparent
- unequivocal
- manifest
- perspicuous
- palpable
- open-and-shut
- patent
2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning ancient oracles typically uttered inscrutable prophecies that could be interpreted almost any way one chose Synonyms & Similar Words
- ambiguous
- cryptic
- obscure
- enigmatic
- mysterious
- dark
- mystic
- enigmatical
- esoteric
- vague
- murky
- opaque
- unclear
- nebulous
- questionable
- arcane
- uncertain
- equivocal
- occult
- confusing
- complicated
- abstruse
- deep
- recondite
- incomprehensible
- elliptical
- weird
- inexplicable
- obscurant
- fuliginous
- indecipherable
- shadowy
- uncanny
- unknowable
- eerie
- elliptic
- baffling
- Delphic
- perplexing
- impenetrable
- shrouded
- disguised
- difficult
- puzzling
- fuzzy
- indistinct
- bewildering
- undefined
- confounding
- mystifying
- double-edged
- cloaked
- indirect
- complex
- concealed
- invisible
- unfathomable
- undetermined
- hazy
- unanswerable
- indistinguishable
- sphinxlike
- masked
- obfuscatory
- foggy
- clouded
- inexact
- obtuse
- intangible
- misty
- indefinite
- noncommittal
- dim
- beclouded
- faint
- shaded
- befogged
- impalpable
- inexplicit
- muddy
- inappreciable
- eery
- cloudy
- shadowlike
- circuitous
- obscurantic
- bedimmed
- obnubilated
- roundabout
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obvious
- plain
- unambiguous
- clear
- understandable
- comprehensible
- intelligible
- knowable
- unequivocal
- accessible
- distinct
- certain
- legible
- evident
- bright
- fathomable
- strong
- straightforward
- sure
- pellucid
- direct
- defined
- nonambiguous
- determined
- explicit
- self-explanatory
- firm
- self-evident
- definite
- unmistakable
- visible
- exact
- tangible
- appreciable
- palpable
- blatant
- patent
- sphingolipidosis
- sphingolipids
- sphingometer
- sphingosine
- sphingosines
- sphinx
- sphinx baboon
- sphinx caterpillar
- sphinx moth
- sphinxes
- sphinxian
- sphinxlike
- Sphoeroides
- sphragide
- sphragistic
- sphragistics
- sphyg
- sphygmo-
- sphygmochronograph
- sphygmograms
- sphygmograph
- sphygmographies
- sphygmographs
- sphygmomanometer
- sphygmomanometers