variants
or elliptic
1
as in cryptic
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
the poet's elliptical style is such that the reader often senses that an allusion is being made—but to what exactly?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
his elliptical replies can seem rude to some people, but that's just his way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of elliptical
There is an oasis in the middle of said desert populated by a community whose residents seem condemned to speak in strange, elliptical phrases.
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Lewis Gordon, The Verge, 7 Oct. 2024
Near the Arctic Circle, places like northern Alaska or Norway experience a phenomenon called the Midnight Sun, where the Sun does not set at all and simply makes an elliptical path around the sky without ever dipping below the horizon.
—New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024
Inside, the Ioniq 9 features elliptical design elements and a panoramic sunroof.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
With a capacity for around 50,000 spectators, its elliptical structure—620 feet long, 511 feet wide, and 164 feet high—was meticulously designed for both crowd control and dramatic impact.
—Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elliptical 
Lewis Gordon, The Verge, 7 Oct. 2024
Near the Arctic Circle, places like northern Alaska or Norway experience a phenomenon called the Midnight Sun, where the Sun does not set at all and simply makes an elliptical path around the sky without ever dipping below the horizon.
—New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024
Inside, the Ioniq 9 features elliptical design elements and a panoramic sunroof.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
With a capacity for around 50,000 spectators, its elliptical structure—620 feet long, 511 feet wide, and 164 feet high—was meticulously designed for both crowd control and dramatic impact.
—Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elliptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elliptical
Adjective
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The teaser ends on a cryptic note, showing an unknown bloodied woman (played by series newcomer Hilary Swank), running down the side of the road from an unseen threat.Abby Monteil, Them, 9 Dec. 2024
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That math is a bunch of cryptic symbols on a piece of paper.Kelsey Houston-Edwards, WIRED, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Kohler Sunstruck oval tub is standard in the primary bathroom if this layout is chosen.Benjamin C Tankersley, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023
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This simple opener works well on circular cans but may not be effective on dented, square, or oval cans.Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Present the information in a concise, easy-to-reference format.Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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The concise speech, which included just a handful of quips and gags, recognized Peach and Blossom, two 40-plus-pound birds named in recognition of Delaware’s peach blossoms, the official flower of Mr. Biden’s home state.Zach Montague, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Remain Calm During Stressful Situations Work can be ambiguous and stressful at times.Kate Wieczorek, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
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The world of Osten Ard is not morally ambiguous; there is right, and there is wrong.Sarah Jones, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Anticipation without hesitation seems to be the style on view in my limited demo, yet there are still plenty of other examples in WIRED's brief ride.Ben Oliver, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
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With Bill Belichick set to prowl the sidelines again after a brief post-Pats cooldown period, the 72-year-old mastermind joins an elite club of former head coaches who’ve used media as a launching pad for a return trip to the X’s and O’s.Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And thanks to Chalamet grabbing a guitar and harmonica, the Bob Dylan movie is positively electric chronicling the enigmatic singer's early years in the 1960s.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
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The trope of the toxic drama teacher rears its head: David and Sarah’s enigmatic acting teacher, Mr. Kingsley, manipulates their emotions and desires in the name of art.Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But the crime scene is swiftly wiped clean, her body removed to avert suspicion and her phone sending curt messages about returning to Los Angeles for a job.Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
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Synthesizers flash like emergency flares; the drums remain curt and clipped; vocalists trace breathy arcs in the space cleared by the bullish low-end.Elias Leight, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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He had been clubbed in the head and the face with a blunt object.Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024
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The speech veered away from the blunt partisan politics that had dominated Mr. Obama’s most recent public appearances.Julie Bosman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near elliptical
Cite this Entry
“Elliptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elliptical. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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