ARCANE Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

arcane

adjective

är-ˈkān

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

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 arcane Winning those contests would grant players Legacy Tickets that would then be automatically converted to GALA using an arcane formula at the end of every day. —

ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026 The late-night vote series in the Senate this week was part of an arcane, complicated process called budget reconciliation that GOP leaders are using to try to fund the two immigration enforcement agencies that Democrats continue to block. —

ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 Taps dispense arcane suds, like a seasonal-favorite watermelon gose. —

Chris Malloy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026 Unfortunately, the only way to reform Colorado’s arcane property tax system will be by citizen initiative or constitutional amendments submitted directly to the voters. —

Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arcane

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcane

Adjective

Such a fracture would normally sink a band, especially one that had been active for a decade, with five ambitious, esoteric albums to their credit and a solid, but perhaps not growing, fan base.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 12 June 2026
Sounds kind of esoteric, but actually a lot of fundamental discoveries were made from that system that ended up relating to things like how human chromosomes go awry and give rise to cancer.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2026