Word of the day · 21 August 2026
enigmatic
/ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk/
adjective
Mysterious, puzzling or hard to interpret.
In a sentence
- Her enigmatic reply left the committee unsure how to vote.
- The painting's enigmatic figure draws visitors back each year.
- He cultivated an enigmatic public image and gave few interviews.
In an image
Origin
From Greek ainigma (riddle) via Latin aenigma and French énigmatique.
History
Enigma named riddles long before it named puzzling people. Enigmatic spread in English as a way to describe opaque statements, smiles and motives. Spy stories and art criticism kept the word in high circulation. It works best when something invites interpretation without handing over the key.
Nearby words
cryptic · obscure · inscrutable
When a person or clue refuses a simple reading.