cryptic
Americanadjective
-
mysterious in meaning; puzzling; ambiguous.
a cryptic message.
- Synonyms:
- enigmatic
-
abrupt; terse; short.
a cryptic note.
-
secret; occult.
a cryptic writing.
-
involving or using cipher, code, etc.
-
Zoology. fitted for concealing; serving to camouflage.
noun
adjective
-
hidden; secret; occult
-
(esp of comments, sayings, etc) obscure in meaning
-
(of the coloration of animals) tending to conceal by disguising or camouflaging the shape
Synonym Usage
See ambiguous.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cryptic
1595–1605; < Late Latin crypticus < Greek kryptikós hidden. See crypt, -ic
Explanation
"White bunny. Moon square." Do you understand what that means? Of course not! It's totally cryptic. Cryptic comments or messages are hard to understand because they seem to have a hidden meaning. Cryptic is from Late Latin crypticus, from Greek kryptos, "hidden." This Greek adjective is the source of the English noun crypt, referring to a room under a church in which dead people are buried. That might account for why the word cryptic has an eerie tone to it.
Vocabulary lists containing cryptic
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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.
Rich Paul, the master of spin, cryptic messages and diversion, was in full force during this entire long, drawn out soap opera/charade involving LeBron James.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Sometimes the lyrics on “Reality Awaits” are funny and self-aware, sometimes they hint at Mr. Casablancas’s deeper concerns, and sometimes they’re cryptic and arch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
They spotted trucks with cryptic labels like "GP" and "garden party" on it and crews unloading tons of equipment and things like large white staircase prop and large mirror ball.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
A Microsoft Windows social media account posted the same cryptic message.
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
Pyat and Xaro had show-ered Dany with promises from the moment they first glimpsed her dragons, declaring themselves her loyal servants in all filings, but from Quaithe she had gotten only the rare cryptic word.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
