cryptic

adjective

cryp·​tic ˈkrip-tik How to pronounce cryptic (audio)
1
2
a
: 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
cryptically adverb

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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 cryptocurrency is currency that exists digitally and that relies on computer encryption (secret code) to prevent counterfeiting and fraud.

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

Example Sentences

… 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
Recent Examples on the Web The Ole Miss football coach pressed send on a Monday night message that included four cryptic emojis. Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 23 Nov. 2022 Minutes after the sentencing Monday, Kyle’s sister, Savannah Chrisley, shared her own cryptic defense on Instagram: a screenshot of a tweet by Pastor Kimberly Jones-Pothier that alludes to the story of Noah and the ark. Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2022 Stefanski was asked about the cryptic remarks of two defensive starters after the loss, Myles Garrett and Grant Delpit. cleveland, 21 Nov. 2022 The following day, her daughter received a cryptic message from her mother's Venmo account. Steve Helling, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2022 The slow unveiling of this new identity has been shrouded in mystery, mostly glimpsed through cryptic missives on social media or images posted to Instagram over the past few months. Liam Hess, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2022 Their burgeoning romance begins with an impromptu art project: The pair designs a poster bearing a cryptic, vaguely sinister message and then clandestinely distributes copies of it all over Coalfield. Sam Sacks, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022 With these images, which are simultaneously cryptic and exposing, King complicates the concept of visibility for Black gay men. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2022 The cryptic clues, moreover, suggest the work of a master criminal, giving the sleuth an adversary worth of his intellect. Brian Lowry, CNN, 3 Nov. 2022 See More

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.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cryptic was in 1620

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Dictionary Entries Near cryptic

Cite this Entry

“Cryptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cryptic. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Kids Definition

cryptic

adjective
cryp·​tic ˈkrip-tik How to pronounce cryptic (audio)
1
: meant to be puzzling or mysterious
a cryptic remark
2
: serving to conceal
cryptic coloring of an animal
cryptically adverb

Medical Definition

cryptic

adjective
cryp·​tic ˈkrip-tik How to pronounce cryptic (audio)
1
: serving to conceal
cryptic coloration in animals
2
: not recognized
a cryptic infection
cryptic cases of lead poisoning
cryptically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cryptic

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