1
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the occult ways in which the human mind works
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2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
an occult reference in the text that has puzzled scholars ever since
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3
as in magic
having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers
Great Britain's Stonehenge is one of those occult places where people expect something of cosmic significance to happen
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as in to obscure
to keep secret or shut off from view
occulted their house from prying eyes by planting large trees around it the actor's private life had long been occulted by a contrived public persona
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of occult
Hank Shteamer, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2023
It’s a determinedly non-jokey supernatural thriller in which a group of Adelaide teens get in way over their heads playing an occult party game.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Jan. 2023
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2025
Want to see Jupiter occulting a quasar?
—Big Think, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for occult
Adjective
Speaking of infernal-sounding, pay close attention around the 4:30 mark here, and witness the occult-metal mastery of Mercyful Fate riffsmith Hank Shermann, abetted by his trusty partner Michael Denner.
—Hank Shteamer, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2023
It’s a determinedly non-jokey supernatural thriller in which a group of Adelaide teens get in way over their heads playing an occult party game.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Jan. 2023
Verb
As the disk begins to occult T Tauri North, the star's light will be filtered through the gas and dust, and begin to be absorbed at certain wavelengths by molecules within the disk.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2025
Want to see Jupiter occulting a quasar?
—Big Think, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for occult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occult
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The event will feature a magic show, balloon twisting and a climbing tree structure, according to the park district’s seasonal brochure.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
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It’s got the big song and dance numbers, it’s got fun characters, it’s got magic tricks.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 2025
Verb
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But this fake overlay simply obscures the app as it is being attacked in the background.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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Several of the changes that House Republicans obscured — and lamented, at turns — on Wednesday came thanks to the Senate’s nonpartisan parliamentarian, a referee who has similarly trimmed Democratic ambitions in the past.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
Adjective
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Location: Chianti Sitting near the border of Tuscany and Umbria, this striking stone villa is befitting of a magical Italian getaway.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
14 July 2025
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The trio secretly use their magical singing powers to protect humans from demonic threats, including a rival boy band of demons, the Saja Boys.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, her makeup turned more matte with concealed under eyes like at The Blonds Fall 2014 show.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
11 July 2025
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Speculation online has included allegations that the federal government was concealing information to shield powerful and prominent figures who were allegedly named in case records.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Occult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occult. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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