mystification

American  

[mis-tuh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌmɪs tə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of purposely causing someone to be perplexed or bewildered by playing on their ignorance, gullibility, or naiveté.

   As a mask for banality or an agent of mystification, the word “dialectical” is really quite wonderful.

   The author put titles at the top of certain pages—in a spirit of mystification, I suppose, since they do not illuminate the reader.

2. an act or instance of making something mysterious or obscure.

   Rejecting any effort to understand Hitler or the Holocaust can lead to a mystification of the past that thwarts all efforts to learn from it.

3. the state of being perplexed or puzzled.

   I felt pretty silly when, after a week of mystification, my techie friend explained how the remote worked.

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Other Word Forms

• overmystification noun

Etymology

Origin of mystification

First recorded in 1810–20; from French mysti(fier) ( mystify ( def. ) ) + -fication ( def. )

Example Sentences

Vitali’s grown children speak with a mix of understanding and mystification at how completely their father devoted himself to another person, sometimes at the expense of being fully present in their lives.

From New York Times

And we made the decision to keep a bit of mystification around how the instruments work, because we prefer to look at them as a vessel of love.

From Los Angeles Times

The lesson is refreshingly practical: There is no need to appeal to misty mystifications to account for a trend that is easily explained by economic hardship and social isolation.

From Washington Post

Telling Mom to take a hike is “so tough”; I don’t share your mystification.

From Washington Post

There’s a sort of indifference that turns into mystification that turns into sadness around that.

From New York Times