enigmatic

[ en-ig-mat-ik, ee-nig- ]

adjective

1. resembling an enigma, or a puzzling occurrence, situation, statement, person, etc.; perplexing; mysterious:

   She has a perpetually enigmatic expression on her face.

   This is the most enigmatic book I have ever read!

   Synonyms: baffling, cryptic, puzzling

Other Words From

• enig·mati·cal·ly adverb
• nonen·ig·matic adjective
• nonen·ig·mati·cal adjective
• nonen·ig·mati·cal·ly adverb
• unen·ig·matic adjective
• unen·ig·mati·cal adjective
• unen·ig·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigmatic¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin aenigmaticus, from Greek ainigmatikós, equivalent to ainigmat- (stem of aínigma “riddle, taunt”) + -ikos adjective suffix; enigma, -ic

Synonym Study

See ambiguous.

Example Sentences

And, as the enigmatic front man to an avant garde indie rock group, he is droll, perceptive, and splendidly weird.

From The Daily Beast

Bolotov has been the most enigmatic of eastern Ukrainian leaders on this score.

From The Daily Beast

Unlike her children and grandchildren, she has kept the brand intact: ever-present, ever-smiling, but ever-enigmatic.

From The Daily Beast

Not since Gwyneth Paltrow's “conscious uncoupling” has one term been so intriguing, and so enigmatic.

From The Daily Beast

Betty Draper burst onto the small screen with an undeniable presence befitting the wife of the enigmatic Don Draper.

From The Daily Beast

Thurstane's blue-black eyes studied this enigmatic being steadily and almost angrily.

From Project Gutenberg

Shelburne, his former leader, he would not invite, for he could not endure his habitually enigmatic conduct.

From Project Gutenberg

At first they were covert and enigmatic, then merely ambiguous, and finally undisguised, and containing the bitterest reflections.

From Project Gutenberg

This young man was again the dark-faced, clear-eyed Roy, droll and dry, with the enigmatic smile on his lips.

From Project Gutenberg

The girl was an enigmatic creature, silent, self-absorbed, shrinking from the give-and-take of social life.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ambiguous
• cryptic
• obscure