Cryptic
adjective /ˈkrɪptɪk/ — Hidden in plain sight — mysterious on purpose.
Definition
Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure; using codes or hidden meaning; in biology, serving to conceal.
Beyond the definition
Cryptic is different from complicated: complicated things are hard to understand by accident; cryptic things are designed to obscure. A cryptic message, person, or answer has been deliberately coded. The word carries the implication of something deliberately guarded, which makes it both frustrating and compelling.
Origin & history
From Greek kryptikos 'fit for concealing', from kryptos 'hidden' — the same root as crypt, cryptography, and apocrypha.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
His final text was cryptic enough that she spent three weeks trying to decode it.
The cryptic crossword rewards patience and lateral thinking — it's a form of play for the seriously minded.
She gave a cryptic smile that could have meant anything from approval to contempt.
Synonyms
Antonyms
clear, obvious, transparent, legible
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Examining ancient artifacts
An archaeologist uses a magnifying glass to study an array of abstract seals and repeated geometric shapes on a desk.
The repeated shapes are cryptic, using a disguised structure to hide their true meaning. The archaeologist's focus captures the difficulty of interpreting such hidden codes, which are designed to conceal their secrets from those without the key.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration