1
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 inscrutable
Automatic bids would provide a layer of protection for the blue bloods from the whims of a committee that uses an inscrutable process.
—
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
The question is how much value Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s inscrutable top executive, who rarely talks with media, would take from a trophy.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Materialists is a swipe-right experience — elusive but not inscrutable, as well as enjoyably, delicately playful.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 June 2025
Most people have a sense that legal principles and arguments are relatively inscrutable to the average Joe.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
The question is how much value Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s inscrutable top executive, who rarely talks with media, would take from a trophy.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Materialists is a swipe-right experience — elusive but not inscrutable, as well as enjoyably, delicately playful.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 June 2025
Most people have a sense that legal principles and arguments are relatively inscrutable to the average Joe.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
-
Scientists will use this data to study dark matter and dark energy, which make up most of the universe but remain mysterious.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
-
Modern courtship is already a nightmare, but director Christopher Landon (of Happy Death Day) ups the stakes when a woman (Meghann Fahy) receives a series of mysterious and threatening AirDrops during her date.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Emojis in texts: More than just fun, a tool for connection While emojis can sometimes be ambiguous or misunderstood, especially in sarcastic or complex conversations, their overall impact is positive.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
-
In fact, she was designed to be ethnically ambiguous for that reason, suggested Carlos Cortés, professor emeritus in history at UC Riverside, who consulted the creative team.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
On Thursday, Bloom shared a series of cryptic quotes from Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist Carl Jung on Instagram.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
4 July 2025
-
The team also discovered two more new species: the cryptic Namib day gecko and the miniature Namib day gecko.—
Aspen Pflughoeft
July 3,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Chartreuse Made by actual French monks based on a nearly 300-year-old secret recipe, this high-proof, kelly green spirit is a bit of an obscure flex.—
Amiel Stanek,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 July 2025
-
Outraged, Gauguin located an obscure French law that proved only children within a four-kilometre radius of a school were bound to attend.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The same narrative was recycled, almost ritualistically, whenever the enigmatic artist took the stage.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Her voice soon catches the attention of the admired and enigmatic choirmaster Machá (Juraj Loj).—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
The identity of Jake's owner remains as mysterious as the robot's uncanny ability to flatter strangers.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
-
These technologies can imitate voices, faces and even emotional expressions with uncanny precision.—
Jennifer C. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The duo stepped out in complementary dark ensembles, with Hayek wearing one of her favorite footwear looks — hefty platform heels — with a black velvet dress.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
-
My perspective always seems a bit darker and less hopeful.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Further projects include psychological thriller The Olive Press, set in the mystic world of the Druze community in Mount Lebanon, from writer and director Samah El Kadi, and co-written by Nadim Chammas.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
-
In an era when nearly everything feels politicized and uncertain, these mystic tools offer something precious: a means of reconnecting with ourselves.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share