Enigmatically: meaning, definitions and examples

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enigmatically

 

[ ˌɪnɪɡˈmatɪk(ə)li ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

mysterious

In a mysterious or puzzling manner.

Synonyms

cryptically, inscrutably, mysteriously, puzzlingly.

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Word Description / Examples
enigmatically

Use when someone or something acts in a mysterious or hard-to-understand manner, often leaving others puzzled.

  • She smiled enigmatically, leaving everyone in the room curious about what she knew.
mysteriously

Describes an action or an event that is strange, unclear, or difficult to explain.

  • The lights in the house turned off mysteriously, and nobody knew why.
puzzlingly

Used when describing something that causes confusion or makes people wonder due to its complexity or oddness.

  • The professor explained the concept so puzzlingly that most students left the classroom even more confused.
cryptically

Used when conveying meaning in a hidden or obscure manner, often intentionally hard to interpret.

  • He answered the question cryptically, making it hard to figure out what he truly meant.
inscrutably

Applies when something or someone is so mysterious or complex that it is impossible to understand or interpret.

  • The ancient text was written inscrutably, making it a challenge even for experts to decipher.

Examples of usage

  • She smiled enigmatically, leaving us all wondering what she was thinking.
  • He spoke enigmatically, never revealing his true intentions.
  • The painting captured her enigmatically beautiful expression.
  • The detective looked at the evidence enigmatically, trying to piece together the clues.
  • The stranger nodded enigmatically, hinting at a hidden agenda.

Translations

Translations of the word "enigmatically" in other languages:

🇵🇹 enigmaticamente

🇮🇳 रहस्यमय ढंग से

🇩🇪 rätselhaft

🇮🇩 dengan misterius

🇺🇦 загадково

🇵🇱 tajemniczo

🇯🇵 謎めいて

🇫🇷 énigmatiquement

🇪🇸 enigmáticamente

🇹🇷 gizemli bir şekilde

🇰🇷 불가사의하게

🇸🇦 بشكل غامض

🇨🇿 tajemně

🇸🇰 tajomne

🇨🇳 神秘地

🇸🇮 skrivnostno

🇮🇸 dularfulla

🇰🇿 жұмбақ түрде

🇬🇪 ამოუცნობად

🇦🇿 sirli şəkildə

🇲🇽 enigmáticamente

Etymology

The adverb 'enigmatically' is derived from the noun 'enigmatic', which comes from the Late Latin 'aenigmaticus', meaning 'of riddles'. The word 'enigma' itself has roots in Greek, where 'ainissesthai' means 'to speak in riddles'. The concept of enigma has long been associated with mystery, puzzles, and hidden meanings, making 'enigmatically' a fitting adverb to describe actions or expressions that are puzzling or mysterious in nature.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,454 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.