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
In some such cases, the motives of the killer are inscrutable or muddy; not so here, where the killer was open about his extreme racist views, including in a manifesto that largely parroted white supremacist hate on immigration.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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All do so, apart from the titular madman, who has a mysterious reason to stay behind.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
20 June 2025
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The story in the graphic novel picks up 10 years after the events of the eponymous 1980 movie, as Joliet Jake disappears from prison under mysterious circumstances.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The inconsistency of the geographical settings goes hand in hand with the how their American protagonists are depicted as inept operators whose heroism is ambiguous Soon after his arrival in Saigon, Andrews mistakes an advertisement for a dubious massage parlor as a clue from a local contact.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
18 June 2025
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That’s negativity bias in action—the cognitive reflex to prioritize potential threats over neutral or positive cues, especially when the situation is ambiguous.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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This Instagram comment comes amid a series of cryptic social media posts shared by Bieber and growing concerns for him.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
12 June 2025
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Gad teased work on the project in 2024 with a cryptic Instagram post that blocked out certain sections on the script’s cover page.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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This obscure law vested NOAA with the authority to issue permits for mining beyond American jurisdiction until an international regime was put in place.—
Time,
Time,
17 June 2025
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That Davis exhibited but ultimately painted over the other two works in his geometric series might suggest some dissatisfaction with their admittedly obscure nature.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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This deeply personal documentary dives into the legacy of Counting Crows and their enigmatic lead singer Adam Duritz, not as a nostalgia play, but as a raw and revealing look at identity, artistry, and the fine line between performance and reality.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 June 2025
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Her enigmatic portraiture graces the collections of billionaire businessman François Pinault and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among others.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Wilson demonstrated an uncanny gift for harmonic invention and complex vocal and instrumental arrangements.—
Roy Trakin,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
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Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, there is a reason this haunting, uncanny novel has such enduring appeal.—
Miriam Gershow
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2025
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Its reversible design features dark stripes on one side made of 92 percent wool, 4 percent polyester, and 4 percent cotton, and the opposite side is made from 100 percent cotton in the solid natural color.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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This book contains the first English translation of the writings of af Klint, a Swedish painter and mystic.—
Melissa Febos,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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