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- pronunciation:
- krIp
tihk
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
difficult to understand; ambiguous or mysterious in meaning.
The cryptic telegram he sent was more worrying than reassuring.- synonyms:
- ambiguous, enigmatic, inscrutable, mysterious
- antonyms:
- clear
- similar words:
- arcane, elliptical, inexplicable, mystic, nebulous, obscure, oracular, puzzling, unclear, vague, veiled
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| definition 2: |
having a secret or hidden meaning.
Only members of the cult understood the cryptic message.- synonyms:
- mystical
- similar words:
- arcane, coded
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| definition 3: |
in zoology, suited to hiding or concealing.
These birds have cryptic markings that help camouflage them.- synonyms:
- cryptozoic
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| related words: |
equivocal, mystical, opaque, secret |
adverb + (adj.)cryptic
equally, extremely, often, quite, rather, somewhat
(adj.)cryptic
+ adverb
slightly
(adj.)cryptic
+ noun
allusion,
answer,
bottom,
call,
character,
clue,
code,
coloration,
comment,
crossword,
e-mail,
explanation,
fish,
formula,
icon,
instruction,
journal,
language,
letter,
lyric,
marking,
meaning,
message,
notation,
note,
passage,
phrase,
poem,
poetry,
postcard,
reference,
region,
remark,
script,
sentence,
sign,
smile,
species,
statement,
style,
summons,
symbol,
text,
title,
writing
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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| derivation: |
cryptically (adv.) |
The word cryptic
contains the following part:
crypt, crypto, cryph
Greek
root
that means secret, hidden
  Example words:
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