mysterious

[mi-steer-ee-uhs] / mɪˈstɪər i əs /

ADJECTIVE

obscure, puzzing, suggesting a mystery

Synonyms

STRONGEST

baffling cryptic curious dark enigmatic inexplicable inscrutable magical mystical mystifying obscure perplexing puzzling secretive strange unknown weird

WEAK

abstruse alchemistic arcane astrological cabalistic covert difficult eldritch enigmatical equivocal esoteric furtive hidden impenetrable incomprehensible insoluble necromantic occult oracular recondite sphinxlike spiritual subjective symbolic transcendental uncanny unfathomable unknowable unnatural veiled

Antonyms

STRONGEST

apparent bright clear comprehendible comprehensible evident familiar intelligible known normal obvious plain regular usual visible

WEAK

public straightforward tangible unmysterious

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.

For almost six years, Argentines have demanded the truth about the mysterious death of their tragic national hero, Diego Maradona, among the greatest soccer players the world has ever seen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Roo's mysterious case was also being reviewed by teams at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children and it was a chance phone call with one endocrinologist there that provided the missing piece of the puzzle.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

At first glance, sea sponges seem almost too simple to be mysterious.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Finally, the hosts delve into the New York Times’ quest to uncover the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, and argue over the investigation’s conclusion.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

Take away the mysterious name, look past the elegant packaging, ignore the status-symbol maneuvering, and it’s clear: whatnots are just...

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Vocabulary lists containing mysterious

Purple Hibiscus

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Schooled

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