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 …

Learn what cryptic means with clear definitions, pronunciation, synonyms, and real-world examples. Simple explanations to help you use cryptic correctly.

CRYPTIC definition: mysterious in meaning; puzzling; ambiguous. See examples of cryptic used in a sentence.

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Add to word list mysterious and difficult to understand: a cryptic message / remark (Definition of cryptic from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

A cryptic remark or message contains a hidden meaning or is difficult to understand. He has issued a short, cryptic statement denying the spying charges. My father's notes are more cryptic here.

Cryptic comments or messages are hard to understand because they seem to have a hidden meaning. Cryptic is from Late Latin crypticus, from Greek kryptos, "hidden."

Define cryptic. cryptic synonyms, cryptic pronunciation, cryptic translation, English dictionary definition of cryptic. also cryp·ti·cal adj. 1. Having hidden meaning; mystifying.

"Cryptic" is an adjective meaning mysterious, obscure, or having a meaning that is not immediately clear; it often describes puzzles, codes, or messages that are hard to understand.

Mar 8, 2026 · Adjective cryptic (comparative more cryptic, superlative most cryptic) Having hidden (unapparent) meaning. Mystified or of an obscure nature; not easy to perceive.