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inscrutable

[ in-skroo-tuh-buhl ]
/ ɪnˈskru tə bəl /
See synonyms for: inscrutable / inscrutability / inscrutableness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable.
not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable: an inscrutable smile.
incapable of being seen through physically; physically impenetrable: the inscrutable depths of the ocean.

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
Question 1 of 10
seclusion
a false belief or opinion.
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of inscrutable

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word inscrūtābilis.See in-3, scrutable

synonym study for inscrutable

1. See mysterious.

OTHER WORDS FROM inscrutable

in·scru·ta·bil·i·ty, in·scru·ta·ble·ness, nounin·scru·ta·bly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to inscrutable

enigmatic, impenetrable, unintelligible, incomprehensible, unfathomable, ambiguous, arcane, cabalistic, deadpan, difficult, inexplicable, mystic, secret, unaccountable, unreadable, unexplainable, poker-faced, sphinxlike, undiscoverable, unknowable

Example sentences from the Web for inscrutable

British Dictionary definitions for inscrutable

inscrutable
/ (ɪnˈskruːtəbəl) /

adjective

incomprehensible; mysterious or enigmatic

Derived forms of inscrutable

inscrutability or inscrutableness, nouninscrutably, adverb

Word Origin for inscrutable

C15: from Late Latin inscrūtābilis, from Latin in- 1 + scrūtārī to examine
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