Vocabulary in context
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Inscrutable
Difficult to understand or interpret; not readily understood or interpreted.
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Imagine This
When archaeologists found a table in the Inca ruins, they were puzzled to find that the table’s stone legs were not screwed to the table’s surface.
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Sounds Like
in-SKROO-tuh-buhl
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Looks Like
looks like: in-scrutable (in-scru-table) hinting at not being scrutable
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Remember This
From Latin inscrutibilis meaning not to be looked into; from scrutari 'to search' plus in- 'not'. The root scrut- is related to scrutiny.
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Other Forms
inscrutabilitynoun
inscrutablyadverb
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Connect With
enigmatic, cryptic, unfathomable, opaque, impenetrable
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Note
Inscrutable describes things (writing, expressions, motives) that are hard to understand. It is often used for things that resist interpretation rather than mere lack of information.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The professor's notes were inscrutable, making it hard for students to know what to study.
- Her expression remained inscrutable, concealing whether she approved or disapproved.
Synonyms
enigmaticcrypticunfathomableimpenetrableopaque
Antonyms
clearunderstandabletransparent
Etymology
From Latin inscrutabilis meaning 'not to be looked into,' from scrutari 'to search' with prefix in- 'not'. The root scrut- is related to scrutiny.
Mnemonic
In-scrutable: not scrutable; remember that scrutiny means careful examination. If something is inscrutable, it resists scrutiny.
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Dazzle
verbTo blind or temporarily stun someone with brilliant light; to impress or amaze greatly with brilliance or skill.
Archaic
adjectiveBelonging to an earlier time; very old-fashioned or outdated; no longer in general use.
Deference
nounThe act of submitting to the opinions or wishes of another; respectful yielding.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
Adept
adjectiveHaving or showing a high level of skill or proficiency; very capable.
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