Meaning & use
cryptic
Having a meaning that is mysterious or hard to understand; deliberately vague or puzzling.
See it in a sentence
He left a cryptic note that simply said, 'Check the garden.'
The professor's cryptic hints didn't help students figure out what was on the exam.
A note on using this word
Cryptic often implies the vagueness is intentional, unlike 'ambiguous,' which can result from unclear wording rather than deliberate concealment.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
clearexplicit
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cryptic”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.