mystery

[mis-tuh-ree, -tree] / ˈmɪs tə ri, -tri /

NOUN

puzzle, secret

Synonyms

STRONGEST

conundrum enigma problem question riddle secrecy subtlety thriller

STRONG

abstruseness charade chiller cliffhanger crux cryptogram difficulty grabber inscrutability mystification occult oracle perplexity poser puzzlement rebus rune sphinx stickler stumper teaser twister whodunit why

WEAK

brainteaser braintwister closed book inscrutableness mindboggler sixty-four thousand dollar question tough nut to crack

Antonyms

WEAK

known understanding

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.

On the most basic level, there’s not much mystery.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

The wreck's identity is a source of mystery because another dredger, the Witham, sank nearby in 1912 under similar circumstances.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

The implications go beyond solving a scientific mystery.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2026

Exactly why NIO stock reversed midday is a mystery.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

“But first things first—back to the letter,” she thought, for at the moment she was trying to solve an altogether different mystery: Had Miss Mortimer forgotten her birthday, or not?

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing mystery

September Words

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Literary Genres - Introductory

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Reading: Literature - Literary Genres - Introductory

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