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cryptic

adjective
cryp·​tic | \ ˈkrip-tik How to pronounce cryptic (audio) \

Definition of cryptic

1 : secret, occult
2a : having or seeming to have a hidden or ambiguous meaning : mysterious cryptic messages cryptic prophecies
b : marked by an often perplexing brevity cryptic marginal notes
3 : serving to conceal cryptic coloration in animals also : exhibiting cryptic coloration cryptic animals
4 : not recognized a cryptic infection
5 : employing cipher or code
Other Words from cryptic Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Mysterious Origins of Cryptic More Example Sentences Learn More about cryptic

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Other Words from cryptic

cryptically \ ˈkrip-​ti-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce cryptically (audio) \ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for cryptic

obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable. obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge. obscure poems dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. muttered dark hints of revenge vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration. a vague sense of obligation enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality. enigmatic occult writings cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. cryptic hints of hidden treasure ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation. an ambiguous directive equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading. moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

The Mysterious Origins of Cryptic

The history of "cryptic" starts with "kryptein," a Greek word meaning "to hide." Can you uncover other "kryptein" relatives in English? Not surprisingly, crypt, meaning "underground chamber," is one. The element "krypton" would be another correct guess, and so would "apocrypha," which can mean "writings of dubious authenticity." "Kryptein" also gave us several words having to do with secret codes, such as "cryptogram" ("a communication in cipher or code") and "cryptography" ("the coding and decoding of secret messages"). And, in fact, something "cryptic" can sometimes seem as if written in code.

Examples of cryptic in a Sentence

… his hectic characters either communicate in choppy or cryptic exchanges or rattle on in breathless recitations full of contradictions and asides. — Donna Seaman, Booklist, 15 Mar. 1994 Since Hughes's poems contained neither Eliot's footnotes nor Ezra Pound's cryptic orientalism, many critics and editors assumed the poet unintelligent and his work raw or, at best, slight. — Rita Dove, New York Times Book Review, 9 Oct. 1988 The remark seemed cryptic to Philip, but when he heard her say it two or three times to different persons, and found that it aroused hearty agreement, he came to the conclusion that it was only obscure to his own intelligence. — W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage, 1915 His instructions were cryptic. He said only to wait until we felt certain the answer was clear. puzzled by the cryptic e-mail message left on his computer
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The duo -- joined in Figs Vision by Zackary Darling and Michael Musselman -- are cryptic when talking about their time apart, and the reasons for it. — Gary Graff, Billboard, "Figs Vision Reconcile & Return With 'Choo Choo' EP: Premiere," 13 Aug. 2019 But just before the start of voluntary veteran minicamp ahead of the NFL draft in April, Peterson posted several cryptic messages on his social media accounts. — Jeremy Cluff, azcentral, "Patrick Peterson opens up about suspension, Arizona Cardinals trade request in interview," 15 July 2019 In some ways, AI is comparable to the classical oracle of Delphi, which left to human beings the interpretation of its cryptic messages about human destiny. — The Atlantic, "The Metamorphosis," 11 July 2019 Mueller is likely to be as cryptic as a Supreme Court nominee, if not more so. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Please Don’t Blow the Mueller Hearings," 23 July 2019 In a brief and rather cryptic Facebook post that started to go viral soon after it was published Wednesday night, the Stuart Police Department said little more than a fist fight had broken out inside the burgers and fries eatery. — Tiffini Theisen, orlandosentinel.com, "Five guys arrested after fist fight at Five Guys," 18 July 2019 The suspect also reportedly made a cryptic and possibly incriminating statement to a witness when asked about the crime. — CBS News, "Podcast spotlights Mississippi double murder – can new DNA technology solve the cold case?," 29 June 2019 Instead, Robbins and Barbot floated their vocals barely a millimeter above the level of the guitars, burying the cryptic lyrics in the overall attack. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, "At the 9:30 Club, Jawbox’s sound is both bristlingly contemporary and an echo of the past," 29 June 2019 There were rumors, cryptic statements, seeming bafflement and frustration publicly from San Antonio — but only characteristic silence from Leonard. — New York Times, "The Raptors’ Journey to the Top of the N.B.A.," 14 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cryptic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cryptic

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

History and Etymology for cryptic

borrowed from Late Latin crypticus "hidden," borrowed from Late Greek kryptikós "obscuring" (Greek kryptikôs "secretly"), from kryptós "hidden, secret" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at crypt

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More Definitions for cryptic

cryptic

adjective
How to pronounce cryptic (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cryptic

: difficult to understand : having or seeming to have a hidden meaning

See the full definition for cryptic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cryptic

adjective
cryp·​tic | \ ˈkrip-tik How to pronounce cryptic (audio) \

Kids Definition of cryptic

: difficult to understand or make sense of He left a cryptic message.

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