Mysterious

mis-teer-ee-uhs

/ˌmɪˈstɪə.ri.əs/ or /mɪˈstɪr.i.əs/

Adjective

Meaning

Mysterious refers to something that is difficult to understand, explain, or identify.
It suggests secrecy, strangeness, or an air of the unknown that stimulates curiosity or wonder.

Examples

The forest looked mysterious in the fog, as if hiding ancient secrets.
She gave me a mysterious smile that I couldn’t interpret.
The disappearance of the artifact remains one of the most mysterious events in history.
There was something mysterious about his sudden change in behavior.
The movie follows the story of a boy who discovers a mysterious box in his attic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms	Antonyms
Enigmatic Puzzling Cryptic Ambiguous Secretive Unfathomable Obscure Arcane	Clear Obvious Transparent Understandable Plain Evident Simple

Word Forms

Noun: Mystery
Adverb: Mysteriously
Noun (quality/state): Mysteriousness

Origin / Etymology

From the Latin mysterium meaning “secret rite,” derived from the Greek mystērion meaning “secret, hidden knowledge.” The adjective form mysterious developed in the early 17th century, referring to something possessing a hidden or unknown nature.

Grammar Information

Usage: Typically used before a noun (e.g., mysterious sound, mysterious figure).
Comparative: more mysterious
Superlative: most mysterious
Describes people, objects, events, behaviors, or situations.

Translations

Hindi: रहस्यमय (rahasyamay)
Spanish: misterioso / misteriosa
French: mystérieux / mystérieuse
German: geheimnisvoll
Italian: misterioso
Chinese (Mandarin): 神秘的 (shén mì de)
Japanese: 神秘的な (shinpiteki na)
Arabic: غامض (ghāmiḍ)

Idioms & Phrases

A mysterious air – a sense of secrecy or intrigue around someone or something.
Mysterious circumstances – unclear or unexplained conditions surrounding an event.
Remain a mystery – to stay unknown or unexplainable.