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

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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

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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 inscrutable The place had inscrutable stoner-eclectic décor, with pictures of Salvador Dalí on serving-tray papers and a Rastafarian lion statuette on the counter. — Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Mars forms a challenging square to Saturn on September 1, putting pressure on your deadlines and stressing you out with weird, inscrutable coworker aggression. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 But, practically speaking, none of it is imaginable or executable without digital technologies that are fundamentally black-boxed, inscrutable to individual cops on the beat and institutional decision-makers alike. — Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026 Up in the directors’ box, sporting director Andrea Berta wore an inscrutable expression as the game flowed. — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inscrutable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable

Adjective

All the power of the government — investigative, technological, legal — has been thrown at finding these mysterious, diabolically clever ballot baddies.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
After all, what better place to reveal the mysterious professor’s identity than in the very magazine responsible for making the fictional detective an international sensation?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of mysterious

Adjective

Jones, Cullen and Locke are pleased to hear how effective the ambiguous ending to Black Church Bay is.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
That’s a question for next season, but their flirtation has been built around Sid’s ambiguous motives from the beginning.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of ambiguous

Adjective

Here’s a prime example of a more cryptic style of clue that sometimes pops up in late-week puzzles.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Kermode was curious, if not slightly annoyed about all this cryptic communication and the request for a secret rendezvous.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

But Sung, Bennett and Miller stayed his order, finding that the California deployment could go forward under an obscure and virtually untested subsection of the law.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The area sits within the Lake Superior clay plain, where the surrounding soil is largely composed of clay, which can make the water murky and obscure objects beneath the surface.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscure

Adjective

Swamped by allegations of fraud, the actions of the company and its enigmatic CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, shone a harsh light on problems with scientific start-ups.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
That's especially prevalent in the Oversized Graphic T-Shirt with enigmatic dates on the back -- those are already causing a stir in the fan community.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of enigmatic

Adjective

In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Connie Britton and Sam Nivola lead the series created by Nick Paley that blends mystery, dark comedy and the awkwardness of adolescence.

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

For many people, however, the presentation instead bears an uncanny and unfortunate resemblance to imagery used in Nazi-era Germany.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The man does seem to have an uncanny ability to pick projects that will have a long shelf life — everything from Up in Smoke and Harold and Maude to Singles, Steel Magnolias, Poison Ivy, and Contact.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncanny

Adjective

Take The Night Veils, for example, which seeks to capture the spirit of the night through fragrances that can best be described as primal and mystic.

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Two translations—of poems by the Indian mystic Mirabai and the contemporary Romanian poet Radu Vancu—seek to inhabit and transcend the history that holds up the present.

— Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026