1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arcane
As Trump prepares to throw every tariff, trade curb, and arcane 200-year-old law his team can imagine at the global economy, Japan’s pre-existing conditions are surfacing, and fast.
—
William Pesek, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Roberts issued the unusual statement Tuesday, hours after Trump called for Boasberg to be impeached over his handling of a case surrounding the White House’s effort to invoke an arcane law from 1798 to deport alleged hundreds of Venezuelan gang members without due process.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2025
This kind of difficulty tuning was previously limited to arcane console commands, id Studio Director Marty Stratton told us, but is now being given to all players for the first time.
—Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2025
Although members of the Harvard Corporation are chosen through an arcane internal process, candidates for the university’s lower, larger body, the Board of Overseers, are nominated by committee and picked by an open alumni vote.
—Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
William Pesek, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Roberts issued the unusual statement Tuesday, hours after Trump called for Boasberg to be impeached over his handling of a case surrounding the White House’s effort to invoke an arcane law from 1798 to deport alleged hundreds of Venezuelan gang members without due process.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2025
This kind of difficulty tuning was previously limited to arcane console commands, id Studio Director Marty Stratton told us, but is now being given to all players for the first time.
—Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2025
Although members of the Harvard Corporation are chosen through an arcane internal process, candidates for the university’s lower, larger body, the Board of Overseers, are nominated by committee and picked by an open alumni vote.
—Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for arcane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane
Adjective
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Seemingly mundane and esoteric to the outsider, chart reviews are a foundational task that underpins a wide range of clinical and administrative workflows within health systems (and for other ecosystem partners).—
Seth Joseph,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Others point to more esoteric answers to the practical problem.—
Tanya Akim,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And this looks to have that signature Souls flavor both in terms of combat and cryptic storytelling.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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The note features a cryptic math puzzle that, when solved correctly using a unique personal identifier, reveals the phone number of the person who found the wallet.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Despite Shauna trying to blame her for all the mysterious things happening to her in season 3, Melissa says that Shauna is the problem, the real anti-hero, so to speak.—
Stacy Lambe,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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In the second episode, Arthur and his queen, Guinevere, are presiding over a feast when it is interrupted by a mysterious visitor, a blind harpist, guided into court by a white dog.—
Alan Yuhas,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There was nothing more profound in the Padres clubhouse afterward than the usual disappointment that is present following dozens and dozens of losses in every team’s season.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
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Her mental health challenges created profound existential questions.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Religion is the topic most likely to cause offense in India today, though the code is ambiguous on this point too.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
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One thing that is not ambiguous is that the spirit is drawing Mia into its world a little at a time.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Those attributed to Jesus—described in language nearly identical to accounts of the Greek mystic and holy man Apollonius of Tyana, say—are neither more nor less convincing than others.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
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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
Adjective
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The third book currently in production is known as The Black Book, a collection of unmade inventions sourced from obscure patents filed all over the world; a fascinating ode to the limitless power of the human imagination.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The Republicans are expected to move the legislation on an obscure procedural track, known as reconciliation, which prevents the minority Democrats from blocking the package with a filibuster in the upper chamber.—
Mychael Schnell,
The Hill,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Sienna Miller and her daughter Marlowe made a rare appearance together at Savannah Miller’s Bridal Ballerina Breakfast, and the resemblance between the two is uncanny.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The similarities to Disney's latest production are uncanny.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcane. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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