Definitions

inscrutable

[in-skroo-tuh-buhl] / ɪnˈskru tə bəl /

ADJECTIVE

hidden, mysterious; blank

Synonyms

STRONGEST

enigmatic impenetrable incomprehensible unfathomable unintelligible

WEAK

ambiguous arcane cabalistic deadpan difficult inexplicable mysterial mystic poker-faced secret sphinxlike unaccountable undiscoverable unexplainable unknowable unreadable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clear comprehensible fathomable intelligible understandable

WEAK

evident obvious plain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But hearing it gives more context to the song's inscrutable title – borrowed from a phrase Lightbody's father had used about his son's hapless love life.

From BBC • Jul. 11, 2026

Telecasts became crowded with inscrutable advanced metrics and probabilities.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

To ordinary churchgoers, the God of medieval imagination appeared distant and inscrutable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Melania, the documentary about the First Lady, is a lot like its subject: extremely expensive and fundamentally inscrutable.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2026

It was constant, the only eternal thing, inscrutable, detached, dispassionate.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Vocabulary lists containing inscrutable

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1984

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Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 3

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