Definitions

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.

The findings, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, offer a possible solution to a long-standing paleontological mystery.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

But the film proceeds at its own steady pace as measured by Ms. Bravo, with a psycho-cinematic complexity that transcends any routine mystery movie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

The suburban malaise subgenre of murder mystery is thriving, from “Big Little Lies” to “All Her Fault.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

The mystery that forensic accountants haven’t found an answer to remains, where did the money go?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

I translate it to myself as I hear it: Goodbye, my Toledo, my beloved home, once I was welcome, now I am not, where I am going tomorrow is a mystery of our God.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

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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