mystery

[mis-tuh-ree, -tree] / ˈmɪs tə ri, -tri /

NOUN

puzzle, secret

Synonyms

STRONGEST

conundrum enigma problem question riddle secrecy subtlety thriller

STRONG

abstruseness charade chiller cliffhanger crux cryptogram difficulty grabber inscrutability mystification occult oracle perplexity poser puzzlement rebus rune sphinx stickler stumper teaser twister whodunit why

WEAK

brainteaser braintwister closed book inscrutableness mindboggler sixty-four thousand dollar question tough nut to crack

Antonyms

WEAK

known understanding

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.

It’s set in a bougie bohemian realm inhabited by actors and writers, cultural nomads who have mystery and money, and a tinge of the sordid about them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

“This one had, like, one-and-a-half acts of mystery and a humorous look at small-town people,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

To solve the mystery, researchers explored several possible explanations.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

A baby boy whose skeleton was found beneath floorboards could have died up to 300 years ago, an inquest has heard, adding more mystery to what happened to him.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

“A local myth. Or mystery, I should say.”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Vocabulary lists containing mystery

September Words

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Literary Genres - Introductory

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Reading: Literature - Literary Genres - Introductory

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