1
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inscrutable
Shout out to Armisen for his inscrutable Eastern European staccato accent as Welk, and to Anne Hathaway as the ideal lead of this sister act.
—
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
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CNN —
The challenge of unearthing lost things and solving inscrutable puzzles is a driving force in the world of science.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
The numbers were completely opaque and inscrutable to human eyes.
—Billy Perrigo, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
Exquisitely designed and brilliantly acted by odd couple Turturro and Goodman, Barton Fink remains one of the Coens’ most deliriously inscrutable dark comedies.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.
CNN —
The challenge of unearthing lost things and solving inscrutable puzzles is a driving force in the world of science.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
The numbers were completely opaque and inscrutable to human eyes.
—Billy Perrigo, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
Exquisitely designed and brilliantly acted by odd couple Turturro and Goodman, Barton Fink remains one of the Coens’ most deliriously inscrutable dark comedies.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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There are dramatic headlines, nonsensical abbreviations and mysterious trends that seem to erase people’s money.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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During the course of the series, Mullen's investigation into the cyberattack unearths the mysterious weapon.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Trump has not commented on the military base plan specifically but delivered an ambiguous answer this week to a question regarding the use of private companies to assist with deportations.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2025
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The film has proven divisive, though, with some audiences puzzled by its breakneck tonal shifts and ambiguous ending.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Women possessed by the gods were oracles, predicting the future in cryptic utterances.—
Vipin Bharathan,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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Escher String Quartet Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs The Escher String Quartet, named for the cryptic artist M.C. Escher, performs pieces by Ravel, Mendelssohn and Mozart on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. $39, $37 seniors, free for students and youth.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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After years in obscure so-so movies playing Chopin and Byron, and in some respectable Merchant Ivory ones, the surprise star of last year's Four Weddings and a Funeral and this year's Nine Months and The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain has lately been having a bad life.—
Candace Bushnell,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2025
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Everything feels absurd and animated by obscure cosmic forces.—
Willing Davidson,
The New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Despite its enigmatic nature, Rafflesia species have long been used for medicinal purposes by Indigenous Peoples and, more recently, as a source of revenue generated by ecotourism.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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Love planet Venus starts retrograding in your enigmatic eighth house on March 1, prompting a review of the hidden underbelly of all your closest bonds.—
Nina Kahn,
StyleCaster,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The disruptions in flow call to mind the format of Be My Guest With Ina Garten, in which Ina both preps for a guest as well as cooks with them, but Meghan’s uncanny flashbacks somehow further untether the show from the reality of her not-kitchen.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
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Reality Blues wades into the mysteries of our uncanny world, trying to catch a vibe.—
Meaghan Garvey,
Pitchfork,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Master of maturation Andrea Wilson adds her own tasting notes, describing baking spice, dark fruit, toffee, fragrant citrus, and floral notes on the palate, followed by a round, complex finish.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
27 Feb. 2025
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This week, Middleton wore the jacket with a dark brown turtleneck, pleated midi-skirt and a similar style of knee-high boots.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Founded on the ethos of art as a form of mystic healing, the label reimagines the family heirloom—and invites its patrons to examine their relationship with objects.—
Nia Shumake,
Essence,
3 Feb. 2025
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Healy Lake members have long considered their dogs to be mystic companions, according to Combs.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
4 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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