cryptic

[ krip-tik ]
See synonyms for cryptic on Thesaurus.com
adjectiveAlso cryp·ti·cal.
  1. mysterious in meaning; puzzling; ambiguous: a cryptic message.

  2. abrupt; terse; short: a cryptic note.

  1. secret; occult: a cryptic writing.

  2. involving or using cipher, code, etc.

  3. Zoology. fitted for concealing; serving to camouflage.

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

Origin of cryptic

1
1595–1605; <Late Latin crypticus<Greek kryptikós hidden. See crypt, -ic

synonym study For cryptic

1. See ambiguous.

Other words for cryptic

Other words from cryptic

  • cryp·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·cryp·tic, adjective
  • non·cryp·ti·cal, adjective
  • non·cryp·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cryptic in a sentence

  • He did not explain that somewhat cryptical remark, and presently he left her and went to his room.

    Skyrider | B. M. Bower
  • Matters were in this cryptical state when the door opened and Father came in.

    New Treasure Seekers | E. (Edith) Nesbit
  • But else, and failing these cryptical or subterraneous currents of communication, for us the record is closed.

  • The conductor opened the door and bawled a cryptical announcement.

    Carmen Ariza | Charles Francis Stocking
  • To most of us the Bible has long been a work of profound mystery, cryptical, undecipherable.

    Carmen Ariza | Charles Francis Stocking

British Dictionary definitions for cryptic

cryptic

cryptical

/ (ˈkrɪptɪk) /


adjective
  1. hidden; secret; occult

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

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

Origin of cryptic

1
C17: from Late Latin crypticus, from Greek kruptikos, from kruptos concealed; see crypt

Derived forms of cryptic

  • cryptically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012