INSCRUTABLE Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

inscrutable

adjective

in-ˈskrü-tə-bəl

Definition of inscrutable

as in mysterious

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 inscrutable But when asked to convey human-woman concerns, like a shitty dad, a shitty husband, and a shitty mother-in-law, that intense gaze can become inscrutable, even incomprehensible — a closed door to her interiority instead of a way in. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026 Some of them led to places that were forbidding, almost aggressively inscrutable, while others were easy enough to read but left an eight-year-old feeling that some funny business was going on behind her back. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026 Cornyn wants to know how that deal came together, though his current position on Blanche is inscrutable. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 Minutes already had been inscrutable enough, with officials cloaked in anonymity and vague quantifiers used to reflect group sentiment at the meeting. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for inscrutable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable

Adjective

Wei and his colleagues have proposed a new physical path to the mysterious function.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026
Now, IndieWire can exclusively share the poster for the studio’s first new film since 2019, which features an eye-catching image of the main character Prue and the film’s mysterious main antagonist, Alexandra.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of mysterious

Adjective

Just below, the most ambiguous passage of the work refuses legibility altogether, blending the whites and grays of the child’s shirt with the tones of her fingers and the blue fabric of the chair behind them.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
This is particularly true for limited series — or any series with ambiguous renewals.

— Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambiguous

Adjective

Corsini and Massimo Vavassori’s script is needlessly cryptic at times, leaving the central figure too much of an abstraction.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026
Ella Rubin stars as Annie Jacobson, a high schooler who stumbles into a mystery when her grandfather dies and leaves her an island in Canada—along with a cryptic letter.

— Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

Some of the details are still obscure—no law requires OpenAI to explain itself—but the basic facts are well understood.

— Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
This confusion is a big reason why the once-obscure argument over the best inflation speedometer is heating up.

— Brandy Hadley, Fortune, 31 July 2026

Definition of obscure

Adjective

Homer, the enigmatic poet, still provokes and inspires us all.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Even with Peter lamenting the loss of his mentor Tony Stark, high-school high jinks keep the storytelling lighthearted, while Jake Gyllenhaal makes an over-the-top splash as enigmatic supervillain Mysterio.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Definition of enigmatic

Adjective

Their traditional decor centers around darker fabrics and pale wall coverings.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Her doctor advised her to stop clinical hyperpigmentation treatments for her dark spots and uneven skin tone as some ingredients could be unsafe to use while trying to conceive or during pregnancy.

— Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

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
As an Asgardian warrior, Thor needs his weapons, so his figure also includes his magical hammer Mjolnir and his mystic ax, Stormbreaker.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

Definition of mystic

Cite this Entry

Style

“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of inscrutable

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on inscrutable

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes