enigma
playWhat It Means
An enigma is someone or something that is difficult to understand or explain.
// The formation of the craters on the planet is an enigma to astrophysicists.
enigma in Context
"[Bob Dylan] remains shrouded in mystery—a 21st-century enigma in his line of work. Like always, his evocative and striking songs are crushing and imaginative. But this time, he opens the door a little bit more than usual, letting us see pieces of himself that usually get buried." — Danielle Grady, The Louisville (Kentucky) Eccentric Observer, 27 Oct. 2021
Did You Know?
Enigma comes from a Greek word that means "to speak in riddles." It applies to things, as well as to people, that puzzle one's mind. Egypt's ancient pyramids and quantum mechanics, for example, might be described as enigmas, as well as physicist Stephen Hawking. In these uses, the word's meaning is a figurative extension of the original "riddle" sense.
Test Your Vocabulary with M-W Quizzes
Quiz
What 9-letter word begins with "c" and ends with "m" and refers to a difficult problem?
VIEW THE ANSWERMore Words of the Day
-
Dec 07
lachrymose
-
Dec 06
solace
-
Dec 05
abdicate
-
Dec 04
celerity
-
Dec 03
perceptible
-
Dec 02
gloaming
