cryptic

noun

(informal) A cryptic crossword puzzle.

adjective

Having hidden (unapparent) meaning.

Mystified or of an obscure nature; not easy to perceive.

Involving use of a code or cipher.

(crosswording) Of a crossword puzzle, or a clue in such a puzzle, using, in addition to definitions, wordplay such as anagrams, homophones and hidden words to indicate solutions.

(zoology) Well camouflaged; having good camouflage.

(zoology) Serving as camouflage.

(biology, not comparable) Apparently identical, but actually genetically distinct.

(zoology) Living in a cavity or small cave.

Roots

kryptoscrypt- · Greek · hidden

Synonyms for cryptic

mysteriousadj inscrutableadj mystifyingadj enigmaticadj cabalisticadj puzzlingadj arcaneadj reconditeadj secretiveadj abstruseadj vagueadj perplexingadj obscureadj esotericadj

Synonyms & related words for cryptic

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of cryptic — including mysterious, inscrutable, mystifying, enigmatic, cabalistic, puzzling. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to cryptic

Explore words related to cryptic — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include kabbalistic, cryptically, sibylline, enigmatical, gnomic, deciphered, puzzlingly, indecipherable. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for cryptic

Common synonyms for cryptic include mysterious, inscrutable, mystifying, enigmatic, cabalistic, puzzling, arcane, recondite — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does cryptic come from?

The word cryptic breaks down into one root of Greek origin: the root crypt-, from Greek kryptos (“hidden”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.