Meaning & Definition of Cryptic in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: Having or seeming to have a hidden or ambiguous meaning.

  Example Sentence: The writer's cryptic notes left everyone puzzled.

• Definition: Difficult to understand; enigmatic.

  Example Sentence: Their cryptic comments only added to the confusion.

• Definition: Secret or concealed.

  Example Sentence: The cryptic message was written in code.

• Definition: Of or relating to cryptography.

  Example Sentence: She studied cryptic techniques used in ancient civilizations.

• Definition: Mystifying; puzzling.

  Example Sentence: His cryptic smile made her wonder about his true feelings.

Etymology

Origin: From Greek 'kryptos' meaning 'hidden'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• cryptic crossword: A puzzle in which words must be deduced from cryptic clues.
• cryptic message: A message that is difficult to interpret due to its ambiguous or hidden meaning.
• cryptic remarks: Comments that are hard to understand because they are vague or obscure.

Translations

• Spanish: críptico

• French: cryptique

• German: kryptisch

• Russian: криптический

Related Words

• enigma: A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

• cipher: A secret or disguised way of writing; a code.

• ambiguity: The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.

Slang Meanings of cryptic

• Meaning: Unintelligible or confusing language.

  Example Sentence: Stop speaking in that cryptic jargon; just explain it clearly!

• Meaning: Vague or mysterious text or communication.

  Example Sentence: His texts were so cryptic that I had no idea what he meant.