enigmatic

[ en-ig-mat-ik, ee-nig- ]

adjective

1. resembling an enigma, or a puzzling occurrence, situation, statement, person, etc.; perplexing; mysterious:

   She has a perpetually enigmatic expression on her face.

   This is the most enigmatic book I have ever read!

   Synonyms: baffling, cryptic, puzzling

Other Words From

• enig·mati·cal·ly adverb
• nonen·ig·matic adjective
• nonen·ig·mati·cal adjective
• nonen·ig·mati·cal·ly adverb
• unen·ig·matic adjective
• unen·ig·mati·cal adjective
• unen·ig·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigmatic¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin aenigmaticus, from Greek ainigmatikós, equivalent to ainigmat- (stem of aínigma “riddle, taunt”) + -ikos adjective suffix; enigma, -ic

Synonym Study

See ambiguous.

Example Sentences

The producers immediately looked to Redmayne to play the titular Jackal, a scrupulous British long-range assassin with an enigmatic quality.

From Los Angeles Times

Cody Bellinger, 29, OF, Boras: The former Dodgers elite center fielder and enigmatic hitter can opt out of the last two years and $52.5 million of his three-year, $80-million contract with the Chicago Cubs.

From Los Angeles Times

It was the enigmatic Timo Werner who set them on their way after five minutes with a thumping finish he did not have time to think about - a key factor when it comes to this striker - from a Dejan Kulusevski pass.

From BBC

Ms Amess also paid tribute to her father as "the most hardest-working person I've ever met", describing him as someone who loved helping people and who was "full of life and enigmatic and passionate".

From BBC

Her quietude does not make her enigmatic.

From Slate

Related Words

• ambiguous
• cryptic
• obscure