cryptic

[krip-tik] / ˈkrɪp tɪk /

ADJECTIVE

secret; obscure in meaning

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous arcane enigmatic equivocal incomprehensible mysterious strange vague veiled

WEAK

Delphian Delphic abstruse apocryphal cabalistic dark esoteric evasive hidden inexplicable murky mystic mystical mystifying occult opaque oracular perplexing puzzling recondite secretive tenebrous unclear unfathomable uninformative

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain clear common definite known normal obvious plain sure

WEAK

seen straightforward

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What’s Next: A cryptic social media post by Nvidia last week fanned rumors that it will be making a chip for Windows PCs, something that could be announced at the GTC Taipei convention starting today.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

There are romantic ruins, secret passageways and cryptic clues to hidden treasure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Adam Liptak have pinpointed a winter night in 2016 as the turning point, when the justices “issued a cryptic, one paragraph ruling” on Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

That they did so in a cryptic one-paragraph ruling was, in Kagan’s words at the time, “unprecedented.”

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

But C.C. did not flinch, other than to tilt her head slightly to the side as she worked through all those cryptic clues.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

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