MYSTERIOUS Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

mysterious

adjective

mi-ˈstir-ē-əs

Definition of mysterious

as in cryptic

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the huge stone statues on Easter Island are ancient, mysterious, and haunting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ambiguous

having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the stranger's mysterious prediction

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mysterious Martha-Mary Chapel, Sudbury Reverend Bryce (Toby Huss) presides over the town church, where mysterious ringing bells seem to indicate something dark is afoot. — Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026 Their fledgling relationship has provided a bright spot for droves of fans around the globe who are mourning the death of Shadow's longtime partner, Jackie, following a mysterious illness earlier this month. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 As with anything related to Meghan and Harry, even the most gossamer threads of gossip quickly ignited, and news of Meghan’s mysterious new role spread across multiple continents. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 But after a series of disturbing events begins occurring around town, including the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline, Celeste, Renata, Jane and Bonnie must grapple with the weight of their past secrets, a synopsis reads. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mysterious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mysterious

Adjective

McEwen offered a cryptic tease about what audiences can expect.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
But the ambassador retorts with evasion, keeping the language cryptic.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

Then ask the insurer, in writing, about anything the certificate leaves ambiguous.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Though her character’s fate was left ambiguous by the end of the film, it was ultimately revealed in 2023’s Scream VI that Kirby survived an intense stab wound and went on to become an FBI special agent.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambiguous

Adjective

For the next 90 days, NASA teams will ready the Roman telescope for its five-year mission to study enigmatic phenomena like dark matter while hunting for habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Matt, whose perspective is largely withheld, remains the most enigmatic of the group, and the one most desperately sought after.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of enigmatic

Adjective

On top of the moving-camera-foamy-dark-mouth challenge, there was the plaque challenge.

— Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
Finley’s breakout was the 2017 dark comedy Thoroughbreds, in which Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy play high-schoolers conspiring to kill an abusive stepfather.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

The piece, inspired by the 12th-century polymathic mystic Saint Hildegard of Bingen, was skin-tinglingly breathy and slow, with long tones (played by Malone and her accompanist Stephen O’Malley) that rose up and swirled around the room.

— Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Poetry of a Hindu mystic Kashmir gradually became a predominantly Muslim society after the Shah Mir dynasty came to power in the 14th century.

— Peter Dziedzic, The Conversation, 30 July 2026

Definition of mystic

Adjective

Given most late-summer midterm-election-year weakness has been more than recovered right afterward, the proper course of action now becomes even more obscure.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
In many cases, the robot tail wags the living dog by tricking it—tricking us—into caring about obscure metrics, then gamifying the process of improving them.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscure

Adjective

These particles efficiently scatter the blue and green light while letting red and orange wavelengths pass through, creating the uncanny feeling of an all-day sunset.

— Michael A. Robinson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
The skyline floated like an uncanny but beautiful projection off to our side.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of uncanny

Adjective

At the start of the year, Iceland Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir said that deeper dialogue and collaboration with the EU would be a key factor in shoring up the country's interests.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Thankfully, his reappearance in the show actually has a deeper purpose.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of deep

Browse Nearby Words

mysteries

mysterious

mysteriousness

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“Mysterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mysterious. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of mysterious

adjective

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