51Թ

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View synonyms for

enigmatic

[ en-ig-mat-ik, ee-nig- ]

adjective

  1. resembling an enigma, or a puzzling occurrence, situation, statement, person, etc.; perplexing; mysterious:

    She has a perpetually enigmatic expression on her face.

    This is the most enigmatic book I have ever read!

    Synonyms: , ,



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Other 51Թ Forms

  • i·i·· adverb
  • ԴDze··i adjective
  • ԴDze··i· adjective
  • ԴDze··i··ly adverb
  • ܲe··i adjective
  • ܲe··i· adjective
  • ܲe··i··ly adverb
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of enigmatic1

First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin aenigmaticus, from Greek Ծپó, equivalent to ainigmat- (stem of íԾ “riddle, taunt”) + -ikos adjective suffix; enigma, -ic
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He added: "He created so many iconic characters and was a real enigmatic movie star."

From

Wearing sunglasses and a heavy leather trenchcoat, Fishburne showed off his action movie chops as the enigmatic operative Morpheus in the original film and the first two sequels.

From

Then again, that ambiguity ties into how these escapees feel about this enigmatic stranger in their midst.

From

County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Noguchi, while David Markey’s “The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell” is a portrait of a notorious, enigmatic star of the local punk scene.

From

I’m interested in the dissemination of information — when a film can be very direct and which points the film can be quite enigmatic.

From

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More About Enigmatic

What doesenigmatic mean?

The adjective enigmatic can be used to describe someone or something that’s puzzling or mysterious.

Enigmatic means resembling an enigma—someone or something that’s puzzling, mysterious, or difficult to make sense of. The word enigma can also mean a riddle, but it’s more often used to refer to something that’s so perplexing that it seems like a riddle (and perhaps was intended to seem like one), as in That book is completely enigmatic—I have no idea what it’s really about.

If you call a person enigmatic, you mean that they’re hard to figure out—the reasons behind what they say and do are not easily understood. Some people try to be enigmatic to be mysterious.

Example: I’ve known him for years, but he’s completely enigmatic—I have no idea what his interests are or what he’s really like.

Where doesenigmatic come from?

The first records of the word enigmatic come from the 1620s. It ultimately comes from the Greek íٳ󲹾, meaning “to speak in riddles,” from ainos, meaning “fable” or “story.”

An enigmatic person’s personality is like a riddle. So is pretty much anything described as Ծپ—l an enigmatic film or an enigmatic statement. There may be a meaning or understandable pattern to it, but it’s not obvious. Sometimes, things described as enigmatic are that way on purpose, probably to add a sense of mystery or intrigue. Other times, things described as enigmatic are just naturally confusing.

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What are some other forms related to enigmatic?

  • enigmatically (adverb)
  • enigmatical (adjective)
  • enigma (noun)

What are some synonyms for enigmatic?

What are some words that share a root or word element with enigmatic?

What are some words that often get used in discussing enigmatic?

How isenigmatic used in real life?

When a situation or problem is described as enigmatic, it’s one that’s confusing or difficult to understand, like a riddle. When a person is described as enigmatic, it usually means that they’re hard to know.

Try usingenigmatic!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of enigmatic?

A. mysterious
B. inscrutable
C. puzzling
D. clear

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