enigmatic

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled enigmatical

US /ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/ UK /ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
mysterious and difficult to interpret or understand

She gave an enigmatic smile that revealed nothing.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · mysterious and difficult to... mysterious cryptic puzzling inscrutable obscure baffling ambiguous

Opposites

clear obvious straightforward plain transparent

Word family

Forms enigmatically

Derived forms enigmatically

Related forms enigmaenigmatical

Etymology

From French énigmatique or Late Latin aenigmaticus, from Latin aenigma ('riddle'), from Ancient Greek aínigma.

aenigmaticus Latin αἴνιγμα Ancient Greek

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Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# enigmatic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk
**IPA (UK):** ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk

## Meanings
1. mysterious and difficult to interpret or understand

## Examples
- She gave an enigmatic smile that revealed nothing.

## Synonyms
- mysterious
- cryptic
- puzzling
- inscrutable
- obscure
- baffling
- ambiguous

## Antonyms
- clear
- obvious
- straightforward
- plain
- transparent

## Derived Forms
- enigmatically

## Related Forms
- enigma
- enigmatical

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: aenigmaticus
- Root: αἴνιγμα

## Etymology
From French énigmatique or Late Latin aenigmaticus, from Latin aenigma ('riddle'), from Ancient Greek aínigma.

## AI Etymology
Enigmatic is from French énigmatique or Late Latin aenigmaticus, from Latin aenigma ('riddle'), from Ancient Greek aínigma. In present-day use, it means mysterious and difficult to interpret or understand. Derived formations include enigmatically. Related vocabulary includes enigma and enigmatical.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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enigmatic

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