1
as in profound
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand
metaphysics is such an esoteric subject that most people are content to leave it to the philosophers
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2
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace
must have had some esoteric motive for leaving his art collection to a museum halfway around the globe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of esoteric
With athletic directors increasingly consumed by revenue generation, schools are relying more and more on outside firms to help fill holes up and down their staff directories, from Olympic sports coaches to even more esoteric positions.
—
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Certainly, the many other bravura moments of The Return suggest a storyteller with enough juice to make even his most fanciful, esoteric ideas and characters into reality.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Few other topics seem to lend themselves so generously to esoteric offerings and crowd-pleasing genre fare, to the page and the screen.
—Matthew Redmond, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
The cinematic language Expressionist filmmakers invented was esoteric, literally and figuratively shadowy, cerebral, and heavily symbolic.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for esoteric 
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Certainly, the many other bravura moments of The Return suggest a storyteller with enough juice to make even his most fanciful, esoteric ideas and characters into reality.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Few other topics seem to lend themselves so generously to esoteric offerings and crowd-pleasing genre fare, to the page and the screen.
—Matthew Redmond, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
The cinematic language Expressionist filmmakers invented was esoteric, literally and figuratively shadowy, cerebral, and heavily symbolic.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for esoteric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for esoteric
Adjective
-
Analysts expect Trump’s tariffs to have a profound impact on the global automotive industry, citing a heavy reliance on manufacturing operations across North America, particularly in Mexico, and complex supply chains.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Yet the Grammys’ handling of the city’s ongoing trauma felt more performative than profound: The fires became a prop and backdrop to the night’s honors, losing the human depth and unimaginable scale of the tragedy in the process.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The survey is confidential, and no personal information will be collected or shared, county officials said.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2025
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The deal has not been finalized yet, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be named because the negotiations are confidential.—
Hayden Field,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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People in certain regions of Minnesota, especially the southeast, have long been at a higher risk of nitrate contamination from their private wells.—
MinnPost,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Acquired some fifteen years ago from a private seller, the unsigned portrait—painted in Paris in 1906—was recently authenticated and published in the Modigliani archive of Rome.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In the years immediately following, Yardley remained in Indiana, working on a series of other books and a commercial secret ink.—
Peter Zablocki,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 Feb. 2025
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Perched on a coastline of pure beauty, its sandy coves and rocky shorelines offer secret summer escapes without the crowds, while downtown, the art galleries, antique shops, and beer gardens are bustling with activity.—
Eliseé Browchuk,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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On October 17, the controversial platform Parler announced that Kanye West would be acquiring it for an undisclosed amount.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
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Google had invested an initial $15 million in the project before fully acquiring Makani for an undisclosed amount in 2013.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near esoteric
Cite this Entry
“Esoteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/esoteric. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025.
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