inscrutable
Americanadjective
-
incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable.
- Synonyms:
- inexplicable, undiscoverable, incomprehensible, hidden
- Antonyms:
- comprehensible
-
not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable.
an inscrutable smile.
-
incapable of being seen through physically; physically impenetrable.
the inscrutable depths of the ocean.
adjective
Synonym Usage
See mysterious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inscrutable
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word inscrūtābilis. See in- 3, scrutable
Explanation
Any person or thing that's mysterious, mystifying, hard to read, or impossible to interpret is inscrutable. You ever notice how it's hard to tell what some people are thinking? Those folks are inscrutable. A good way to think about what inscrutable means is to consider cats and dogs. Dogs wear their hearts on their sleeves, shaking when they're afraid and bouncing up and down when they're happy. Dogs are definitely not inscrutable, because you can tell what they're thinking and feeling. On the other hand, cats are very difficult to read. Even longtime cat owners aren't always sure what's going on with their kitty. Cats are very inscrutable animals.
Vocabulary lists containing inscrutable
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
1984
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Ryonex is not exactly a hot search item, and I’ve come across plenty of other sloppypastas with similarly inscrutable figures, like a “techno” producer named Orivex whose “growing visibility” is defined by an A.I.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026
"If mammalian ancestors were egg-laying or viviparous has been considered an inscrutable mystery," said Gaetano.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
Nicolas Winding Refn directs this inscrutable yet mesmerizing thriller that follows the converging stories of an actress, an American G.I., and a mysterious murderer called the Leather Man.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
But hearing it gives more context to the song's inscrutable title – borrowed from a phrase Lightbody's father had used about his son's hapless love life.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
She wore navy silk riding clothes, and sapphires, and an expression as inscrutable as the sea.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
