Word meaning
cryptic
adjective · KRIP-tik
What does cryptic mean?
Cryptic means having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.
Cryptic in a sentence
“He left a cryptic note: "Back when the tide turns."”
Synonyms for cryptic
- mysterious
- enigmatic
- puzzling
Where does cryptic come from?
From Greek kryptos, "hidden."
How to remember cryptic
- Say it out loud a few times: KRIP-tik.
- Write one sentence of your own using cryptic, about something that happened to you today.
- Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.
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- deft — quick and skillful; neat in movement.
- malapropism — the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with comic effect.