cryptic

adjective
UK: /ˈkrɪptɪk/
US: /ˈkrɪptɪk/

  1. Difficult to understand; having a hidden or ambiguous meaning.

    1. The message was very cryptic, I couldn't understand it at all.
    2. Her cryptic smile suggested she knew more than she was letting on, creating a mysterious aura.

  2. Using or expressed in a way that is difficult to understand; intentionally obscure or mysterious.

    1. He gave a cryptic answer and walked away quickly from me.
    2. The detective studied the cryptic note, searching for a clue to unlock the mystery.

Synonyms

mysterious enigmatic obscure puzzling ambiguous vague

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "cryptic" in English means: Difficult to understand; having a hidden or ambiguous meaning., Using or expressed in a way that is difficult to understand; intentionally obscure or mysterious..

The phonetic transcription of "cryptic" is /ˈkrɪptɪk/ in British English and /ˈkrɪptɪk/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "cryptic": mysterious, enigmatic, obscure, puzzling, ambiguous, vague.

Example usage of "cryptic": "The message was very cryptic, I couldn't understand it at all.". More examples on the page.