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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Recent Examples of inscrutable
The figures in her paintings, whether men, women or children, tend to have the same unblinking, inscrutable expression.
—
Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 15 May 2025
For now, this volcanic orb remains maddeningly inscrutable.
—Robin George Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
But as with many things in life, the truth happens to be much more complicated, much more inscrutable, and much more disturbing.
—New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025
As socioeconomic and ideological gaps widen in the United States, people will continue to find one another inscrutable, infuriating, or hostile, however much everyone softens themselves.
—Lily Scherlis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 15 May 2025
For now, this volcanic orb remains maddeningly inscrutable.
—Robin George Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
But as with many things in life, the truth happens to be much more complicated, much more inscrutable, and much more disturbing.
—New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025
As socioeconomic and ideological gaps widen in the United States, people will continue to find one another inscrutable, infuriating, or hostile, however much everyone softens themselves.
—Lily Scherlis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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Carlton Reid Based on 20 years of observations by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, new research sheds light on one of the solar system’s most mysterious planets.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
27 May 2025
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Denim shifts toward a mysterious direction in Blooming Darkness.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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At first unsure, Ester allows the guy to touch her, and as a viewer the scene is ambiguous.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
24 May 2025
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The camera flies out over the water, and neither Cecilie nor the audience gets a definitive answer, with the series coming to an ambiguous and unsettling end.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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On Thursday, May 29, the 20-year-old shared a cryptic message on Instagram Stories.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
30 May 2025
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Before Tessitore and Barrett could finish arguing, the screen cut out to a cryptic promo from Uncle Howdy, who teased coming after the Tag Team Titles.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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There are some opaque methods for opening car tailgates, but Smart’s must be one of the most obscure.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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That brings us to Biden’s cancer, a diagnosis that surely cast a pall over the various book tours and panel discussions on what the Bidens and their handlers did or did not obscure.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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The film features our beloved returning team members (Luther, Benji, and Ilsa) as well as new faces like the enigmatic thief Grace (Hayley Atwell); Gabriel (Esai Morales), an assassin who knew Ethan in his pre-IMF life; and Denlinger (Cary Elwes), the Director of National Intelligence.—
Will Harris,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
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The Chicago producer has frequently expressed his disdain for the enigmatic rapper ever since he was left off of the recent LP while Kendrick Lamar got three separate features.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The lyrebird is a master mimic, able to reproduce the calls of other birds, chainsaws, camera shutters, car alarms, and even human voices with uncanny precision.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Filled with uncanny creatures and unintelligible language, the book's inspiration came, Serafini muses, either from aliens, or his cat.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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With their golden yellow rays surrounding a dark cone, Rudbeckias are quintessential summer blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
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Related Stories All About Jalen Brunson's Parents, Sandra and Rick Brunson See Photos of Timothée Chalamet, Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal and More On May 16, Chalamet wore a Chrome Hearts tracksuit in a dark navy blue.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The author also varies the texture of the book by inserting poems, quotations, dramatic dialogue, a veiled account of her unhappy days at boarding school, and a lengthy digression on the German mystic Friederike Hauffe, who claimed to be clairvoyant and to communicate with spirits.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
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Further projects include psychological thriller The Olive Press, set in the mystic world of the Druze community in Mount Lebanon, from writer and director Samah El Kadi, and co-written by Nadim Chammas.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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