ARCANE Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

arcane

adjective

är-ˈkān

Definition of arcane

as in esoteric

difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand grammatical rules that seem arcane to generations of students who were never taught grammar in the first place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cryptic

having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the rebate form uses arcane language, the only purpose of which seems to be to disqualify buyers from actually getting a rebate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mysterious

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain my predecessor in this job obviously had his own arcane system for filing things, and so I haven't a clue as to where anything is

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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 arcane The tracks were all exactly five minutes long, which lent further mystery, as if they’d been produced by some arcane assembly line. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026 Davis was known for her policy chops and a deep understanding of complicated subjects gleaned by arcane research. — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2026 The Bringers of the Cosmic Dawn seek to tear the barrier down in pursuit of their own vision, while the Red Wizards of Thay maneuver in the shadows, hungry to seize the arcane power within. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 24 June 2026 There are thousands of cryptocurrencies, countless blockchains, arcane fees to pay for swapping tokens, and complicated onboarding processes. — Ben Weiss, Fortune, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for arcane

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane

Adjective

The emphasis on narrative isn’t an esoteric brand aspiration, but a measurable marketing move.

— Rekha Thomas, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Of course, Yamagata is a long way to go just to peep some jellyfish, so combine a visit with the misty temples of nearby Dewa Sanzan, three mountains sacred to the ascetics of the esoteric Shugendo religion.

— Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of esoteric

Adjective

Osbourne’s recent cryptic posts follow a TMZ report suggesting that DJ and keyboardist Wilson had been removed from Slipknot after 28 years with the group.

— Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Kelly Osbourne shared cryptic posts amid rumors of her split with Sid Wilson.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

But when they’re interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious beige van — the same one viewers may have spotted in the preceding episodes — Bret uses the opportunity to ask Terry to take him home.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Final Invasion begins when a mysterious UAP satellite crashes in the New Mexico desert.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of mysterious

Adjective

Nothing offers more profound possibilities and risks for our economy and our security, our society for very - for humanity.

— Tonya Mosley, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
Unbeknownst to them, the puzzle would help launch a profound branch of modern math about order among chaos and spark a romance that would last the rest of Klein’s life.

— Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of profound

Adjective

But that was ambiguous enough for some overeager follow-up reports to mistake the book for the kill-and-tell that many had always assumed Finke would eventually write.

— Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Worse than that, real-world sensor data is often so ambiguous, incomplete, and riddled with noise that the only way to describe it is borderline chaotic.

— David Szondy August 11, New Atlas, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambiguous

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

Beyond those circles, though, the English-language broadcaster that serves as Taiwan’s main international messaging outlet remains relatively obscure.

— Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
On the Japanese side of the intervention, Tokyo also refrained from selling Treasuries and instead tapped an obscure Federal Reserve tool called the Foreign and International Monetary Authorities Repo Facility.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscure

Browse Nearby Words

arcadias

arcane

arced

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“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcane. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of arcane

adjective

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