cryptic

[krip-tik]

adjective

1. mysterious in meaning; puzzling; ambiguous.

   a cryptic message.

   Synonyms: enigmatic

2. abrupt; terse; short.

   a cryptic note.

3. secret; occult.

   a cryptic writing.

4. involving or using cipher, code, etc.

5. Zoology.,  fitted for concealing; serving to camouflage.

noun

1. a cryptogram, especially one designed as a puzzle.

cryptic

/ ˈkrɪptɪk /

adjective

1. hidden; secret; occult

2. (esp of comments, sayings, etc) obscure in meaning

3. (of the coloration of animals) tending to conceal by disguising or camouflaging the shape

Other Word Forms

• cryptically adverb
• noncryptic adjective
• noncryptical adjective
• noncryptically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryptic¹

1595–1605; < Late Latin crypticus < Greek kryptikós hidden. See crypt, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryptic¹

C17: from Late Latin crypticus, from Greek kruptikos, from kruptos concealed; see _crypt

Synonym Study

See ambiguous.

Example Sentences

Mr Williams then created Masquerade, a book filled with cryptic riddles pointing to the hare's location, which attracted treasure hunters from around the globe before it was finally unearthed in 1982.

Read more on BBC

“Endure,” he wrote, in his usual cryptic fashion.

Read more on Barron's

“Endure,” he wrote on X, in his usual cryptic fashion.

Read more on Barron's

In a recent interview with Politico External link, National Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett, another contender for Fed Chair, also argued that the Fed’s current process is too cryptic.

Read more on Barron's

In between shows in the late 1960s, he wrote 42 cryptic puzzles, one a week, as a favor to the founders of the just-launched New York magazine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ambiguous 
• arcane 
• enigmatic 
• equivocal 
• incomprehensible 
• mysterious 
• strange 
• vague 
• veiled