mysterious
20 synonyms and 4 antonyms for mysterious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Difficult to understand or explain; hard to figure out.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use mysterious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle French mystérieux, ultimately from Latin mysterium ("mystery").
Full origin of mysterious →Frequently asked questions
What does “mysterious” mean?
The word “mysterious” means difficult to understand or explain; hard to figure out. In plain terms, something puzzling, unexplained, or intentionally kept secret.
How do you pronounce “mysterious”?
“Mysterious” is pronounced mih-STEER-ree-uhs (/mɪˈstɪɹi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “mysterious” in a sentence?
Here is “mysterious” used in a sentence: “The house had a mysterious atmosphere that unsettled visitors.”
What is another word for “mysterious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mysterious” include arcane, cryptic, enigmatic, ill-defined, inenubilable and mysterial.
What is the opposite of “mysterious”?
The opposite of “mysterious” — its antonyms — are known, unambiguous, unmysterious and well-defined.
What part of speech is “mysterious”?
“Mysterious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “mysterious” come from?
The word “mysterious” comes from Latin. From Middle French mystérieux, ultimately from Latin mysterium ("mystery").
Is “mysterious” a common word?
“Mysterious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between mysterious and suspicious?
Mysterious describes something difficult to understand, explain, or figure out, prompting curiosity. Suspicious implies that something seems dishonest or likely to be wrong, prompting distrust rather than mere intrigue.
What is the difference between mysterious and mystical?
Mysterious means hard to understand or explain, or deliberately secretive. Mystical relates to spiritual or supernatural qualities beyond ordinary understanding, often carrying a sense of the sacred.
When should you use mysterious to describe a person?
Use mysterious for a person when they are deliberately vague or secretive about themselves and reveal little. It suggests intrigue and an air of the unknown rather than dishonesty.
What nouns often go with mysterious?
Mysterious commonly pairs with words such as stranger, circumstances, disappearance, and figure. These collocations emphasise something unexplained, puzzling, or secretive.