adj

enigmatic

eh-nihg-MA-tihk

Enigmatic (adj) means Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. Example: “He gave an enigmatic smile and said nothing more.”

adj

Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.

"He gave an enigmatic smile and said nothing more."

"The artist was known for her enigmatic, dreamlike paintings."

How to use enigmatic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPuzzling or mysterious in a way that's hard to pin down.

Common pairings

enigmatic smile enigmatic figure remain enigmatic

more enigmatic comparative, most enigmatic superlative

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He gave an _____ smile and said nothing more.

From Ancient Greek ainigmatikos, related to ainigma, "riddle".

Origin: Ancient Greek

static somatic aquatic fanatic hepatic erratic lunatic aromatic ecstatic operatic dramatic climatic

What does “enigmatic” mean?

The word “enigmatic” means difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. In plain terms, puzzling or mysterious in a way that's hard to pin down.

How do you pronounce “enigmatic”?

“Enigmatic” is pronounced eh-nihg-MA-tihk (/ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “enigmatic” in a sentence?

Here is “enigmatic” used in a sentence: “He gave an enigmatic smile and said nothing more.”

What part of speech is “enigmatic”?

“Enigmatic” is an adjective.

Where does the word “enigmatic” come from?

The word “enigmatic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek ainigmatikos, related to ainigma, "riddle".

Vocabulary lists that include enigmatic: