mysterious
mih-STEER-ree-uhs
Mysterious (adj) means Difficult to understand or explain; hard to figure out. Example: “The cause of the strange noise in the attic remained mysterious for weeks.”
adj
1
Difficult to understand or explain; hard to figure out.
"The cause of the strange noise in the attic remained mysterious for weeks."
"The house had a mysterious atmosphere that unsettled visitors."
"His sudden disappearance remains mysterious to this day."
2
Deliberately vague or secretive about something.
"Why are you being so mysterious about where we are going tonight?"
"He gave a mysterious smile and refused to tell us who had sent the gift."
"She was being mysterious about her weekend plans."
How to use mysterious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething puzzling, unexplained, or intentionally kept secret.
Common pairings
mysterious circumstances
mysterious disappearance
mysterious stranger
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more mysterious
- Superlative
- most mysterious
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The cause of the strange noise in the attic remained _____ for weeks.
Etymology
From Middle French mystérieux, ultimately from Latin mysterium ("mystery").
Synonyms
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puzzling
baffling
inexplicable
unexplained
obscure
mystifying
arcane
cryptic
enigmatic
ill-defined
inenubilable
mysterial
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mysterious
See all rhymes for 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.
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