Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for enigma

enigma

[ uh-nig-muh ]

noun

, plural e·nig·mas; Chiefly Archaic e·nig·ma·ta [uh, -, nig, -m, uh, -t, uh].
  1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation:

    His disappearance is an enigma that has given rise to much speculation.

    Synonyms: problem

  2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character:

    To me he has always been an enigma, one minute completely insensitive, the next moved to tears.

  3. a saying, question, picture, etc., containing a hidden meaning; riddle.
  4. (initial capital letter) a German-built enciphering machine developed for commercial use in the early 1920s and later adapted and appropriated by German and other Axis powers for military use through World War II.


enigma

/ ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk; ɪˈnɪɡmə /

noun

  1. a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous
“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


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • enigmatic, adjective
  • ˌenigˈmatically, adverb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigma1

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin aenigma, from Greek aínigma, equivalent to ainik- (stem of ainíssesthai “to speak in riddles,” derivative of aînos fable) + -ma noun suffix of result
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigma1

C16: from Latin aenigma, from Greek ainigma, from ainissesthai to speak in riddles, from ainos fable, story
Discover More

Synonym Study

See puzzle.
Discover More

Example Sentences

As great as this feat was, an equally demanding test followed: to conceal from the Nazis that Enigma had been beaten.

Madame Cézanne is ultimately about the figure in the portraits rather than the person, who remains a tantalizing enigma.

He was a paragon of masculinity—a tall, dark, and impossibly handsome enigma.

The name is "an enigma even to me," Taylor says -- an appropriately mysterious moniker to make spiritual music under.

Lil B is a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a song about Ellen Degeneres.

To Lucy Warrender, who now heard of the matter for the first time, these initials were no enigma.

He tells me that La Fayette has fled; but when, where, or for what purpose, is all equally an enigma.

Aristide looked mournfully over the rain-swept common through the leaded panes, and speculated on the enigma of woman.

The Man in the Iron Mask is an enigma which each one attempts to solve.

“You tempt one to enquire the length of the reign of a satisfactory enigma,” cried Lady Engleton.

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Enidenigmatic