Enigmatic
hardNeutral toneen-ig-MAT-ik
adjective
Definition
Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
Memory hook
ENIGMA-tic: like an ENIGMA machine - coded and mysterious, requiring effort to decode.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile has fascinated people for centuries.”
“He gave an enigmatic answer that revealed nothing.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The Mona Lisa's ______ smile has fascinated people for centuries.”
Show answer
enigmatic
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Enigmatic is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "cryptic" or "mysterious" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "transparent".
Related GRE Words
arcane
Understood by few; mysterious or secret
equivocal
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous
cryptic
Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure
obscure
Not discovered or known about; uncertain
enigma
A puzzling person or thing; something mysterious or inexplicable
shrouded
Covered or enveloped so as to conceal from view
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